Drop-out rate in primary schools on decline: Govt.

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Claiming that the retention of pupils in primary schools had been showing a positive trend since the launch of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the government today said drop-out rates at the primary stage had declined from 39.03 per cent in 2001-02 to 31.36 per cent in 2003-04.

The drop-out rate for girls during the period declined more sharply by 11.76 per cent, Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari told the Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a string of supplementaries, she said apart from regular monitoring by the Central government, the SSA was reviewed every six months by independent experts.

''The last review was held between 17-27 July, 2006 which has expressed satisfaction at the remarkable progress in increasing access and narrowing gender and social gaps in SSA, wherein the country is fast approaching near-universal enrolment at primary stage,'' she said.

Pointing out that mid-day meal was a very progressive scheme towards retaining pupils in schools, Ms. Purandeswari said the Planning Commission would soon launch a nationwide scheme to improve the existing system.

The Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme provides a 'hot cooked meal' to nearly 12 crore children studying at the primary stage in government, government-aided and local body schools and alternative education centres.

She said reviews of the MDM scheme by the ministry had indicated the inadequacy of Central assistance for cooking cost and the non-availability of kitchen sheds.

''Both issues have been addressed in the revised mid-deal meal scheme,'' she said, ading that fruits and nutritional additives had been included to the meals.

The Minister also informed that UNICEF had been asked to conduct a baseline survey of nutritional status of children.

For reducing drop-out rates under the SSA, she said a multi-pronged approach had been adopted for strengthening of schools and upgrading quality of education through improvement in school infrastructure, recruitment of additional teachers, annual school grants and regular training of teachers.

Replying to a supplementary, the minister said five states -- Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Manipur -- were lagging behind under the SSA, and a major reason for this was lack of toilet facilities for girls in primary schools.

Quoting a UNICEF report, Dr. Najma Heptulla (BJP) said lack of toilet facilities for girls had prevented them from attending primary schools, and the issue must be addressed in right earnest.

UNI/SKS VA K P1346