Centre's Multi-Pronged Push to Raise School Enrolment, Curb Dropouts

The Union government has outlined a comprehensive strategy to boost school enrolment and reduce dropout rates across India, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The measures aim to make schools more accessible, improve infrastructure, provide financial and nutritional support, and use technology for real-time monitoring of student progress.

A key pillar of the strategy is strengthening the school network itself. The government plans to open new schools and upgrade existing institutions up to the Senior Secondary level. Improving basic infrastructure, such as classrooms, toilets, drinking water, and electricity, is seen as essential to creating a conducive learning environment that encourages students to stay in school.

To address gender disparities in education, the government is focusing on girls through the expansion of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) up to Class 12. These residential schools are intended to provide quality education to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, the government is setting up Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas and hostels under the PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA schemes. These residential facilities aim to serve students from tribal and other underserved communities, ensuring that distance and lack of local schools do not become barriers to education.

For students who face commuting challenges, transport allowances and escort facilities are being provided. The government is also conducting enrolment drives and setting up seasonal hostels and residential camps, particularly for children from migrant and remote communities. These efforts are designed to keep children connected to the education system even when their families move for work.

To reduce the financial burden on families, students are being provided free textbooks, free uniforms, and access to vocational education. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities are also being made available in schools, enabling digital learning opportunities.

Nutrition is another critical component. Under the PM POSHAN Yojana, students from Balvatika to Class 8 are served hot cooked meals. This programme aims to improve nutritional status, encourage regular attendance, and thereby lower dropout rates.

On the technology front, the government has established Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) to enable real-time monitoring of school education across states. The VSK platform tracks students to prevent dropouts, monitors migration between schools, and assesses learning outcomes. It also facilitates real-time monitoring of various interventions and holds teachers accountable, allowing education authorities to identify gaps and take timely corrective action.

Another significant initiative is the APAAR ID under the 'One Nation, One Student ID' programme. This 12-digit lifelong identification number, linked to Aadhaar, is designed to create a unified academic identity for every student. It will allow seamless tracking of a student's educational journey across schools and support continuity in education, even when families relocate.

These measures, taken together, reflect a coordinated approach to achieving universal school enrolment and retention. The effectiveness of these initiatives will depend on their implementation at the state and district levels, as well as on addressing local challenges such as teacher shortages and community engagement.