Committee raises concern over girl dropout students

New Delhi, Aug 23: After Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information infrastructure and innovations expressed his concern over the quality of education in the country, a Parlimentary panel for women empowerment showed its concern over the dropout rates of girl students.

The panel in its report expressed dissatisfaction and stated that the dropout and non retention of girl students is a serious problem. They emphasised on the urge to retain girl students and to analyse the reasons that contributed to this process.

The Women and Child Development Ministry stated that the reasons for girls dropping out of schools could be many like economic disadvantage, workload in the house, taking care of their siblings and in general the entire society's outlook towards girls' education.

The ministry has suggested many strategies like small size learning communities, better interaction between students and teachers, lesser burden at home and support for students with disabilities.

The ministry also put forth ideas like providing a neighbourhood school, two sets of uniforms for all girls within a ceiling of Rs 400 per child per annum, free text books for all girls at both primary and upper primary levels.

For those who live in remote places, transport and escort facilities should be provided. Residential schools have been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks for dropouts and vulnerable girls, the ministry has said.

The committee has asked for an expert panel to be set up to look into this matter and has asked measures to be taken from letting the problem slip further.

OneIndia News