Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 28
Jammu and Kashmir’s secondary school dropout rate rose to 12.60 percent in 2024-25, prompting a parliamentary committee to call for a targeted programme to keep students in education beyond the elementary stage.
The recommendation was made in the 260th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, presented in Parliament on August 7.
The report reviewed administrative governance, socio-economic development and internal security in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as border security management in Ladakh.
The committee noted that dropout rates at the primary and upper-primary levels had declined.
The primary dropout rate fell from 8.97 percent in 2023-24 to 1.50 percent in 2024-25, while the upper-primary rate declined from 4.30 percent to 3.20 percent.
At the secondary level, however, the dropout rate increased to 12.60 percent, the committee said.
It also flagged a sharp decline in the Gross Enrolment Ratio as students progressed through the education system – from 114.2 percent at the primary level to 77 percent at upper-primary, 65.4 percent at secondary, and 53.7 percent at higher-secondary.
The committee said the figures pointed to continuing weaknesses in student retention and transition after elementary education.
It recommended implementing the roadmap for universal enrolment in “mission mode”, with annual, district-wise and stage-wise targets.
The committee also called for progress to be reviewed at least twice a year by the Chief Secretary and corrective action to be taken in districts and education zones that fail to meet targets.
It proposed a dedicated Secondary School Retention Programme offering measures such as targeted scholarships, subsidised transport, hostel facilities, digital devices, remedial classes, career counselling and vocational exposure.
The committee called for special attention to girls, economically weaker families, tribal and migratory communities, children with disabilities and students living in border, mountainous and snow-bound areas.
Schools should identify students at risk of dropping out because of prolonged absence, poor academic performance, financial difficulties or other vulnerabilities and follow up with counselling and families, it said.
The panel also raised concerns about teacher availability in rural and difficult areas and called for a data-driven assessment of vacancies, enrolment and geographical requirements.
It recommended incentives, accommodation and minimum-tenure provisions to attract teachers to difficult areas and said schools should not be left without teachers in core subjects.
On higher education, the committee called for time-bound implementation of proposed interventions, particularly in districts with low participation at the higher-secondary and higher-education levels.
It said any proposed Digital University should meet regulatory and quality requirements, have reliable connectivity and complement rather than replace physical institutions.
The panel also recommended aligning vocational education with Jammu and Kashmir’s economic potential in sectors including tourism, hospitality, horticulture, agriculture, handicrafts, healthcare, information technology and renewable energy.
It called for partnerships with industry and local enterprises to provide apprenticeships, internships, entrepreneurship support and “earn while you learn” opportunities.
The administration should maintain programme-level data on enrolment, completion, apprenticeships, placements and earnings to assess the employment outcomes of vocational programmes, the committee said.
