School drop out rate declines: Purandeswari

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The Union Human Resources Development Ministry today said the dropout rate of children in schools has come down by 15 per cent due to several new initiatives launched by the government.

''Figures show that there is a general downward trend in dropout rates in primary, middle and secondary level,'' Minister of State in the Ministry D Purandeswari told the Lok Sabha.

Replying to questions, she said the access of girls to elementary schooling was being enhanced under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme.

''Measures are also being undertaken to provide flexible schooling, early childhood care, educational incentives, community action to support continuation of girls in the elementary education cycle,'' she said.

Several members from both the treasury and Opposition benches regretted that the dropout rate in somes states stood static at as high as 80 per cent.

They expressed concern over the ''very high'' dropout rate of girls.

Ms Purandeswari said the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme was a success story of the HRD Ministry. However, there was no plan to stretch the scheme beyond class IX, she added.

UNI