In Jammu Kashmir at least 34 percent of students at the elementary level and 16 percent of students at the primary level respectively discontinue their studies mid-way.
The official documents have learned that only 84 percent of students up to Grade V and 66 percent are being retained to the next level.
“The retention rate at primary level up to Grade-V is 84 percent and elementary level up to Grade-VIII is 66 percent only,” it reads.
The documents read that the retention rate at both levels was below the national average.
According to the official figures, “The retention rate at the secondary level has increased by 7 percent from the previous years.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has asked the government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to take initiatives for 100 percent retention of the children in the education system.
“The continued efforts and need-based strategies are required to improve retention,” the MoE said.
The documents further reveal that the analysis has suggested that there were a large number of repeaters and dropouts at the upper primary level as compared to the primary level.
A day before KNO reported the dropout rate of students in several districts, particularly among Schedule Tribe (ST) communities, is very high at all school levels across Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)