LUCKNOW: As many as 5.12 lakh adolescent girls – one-fourth of the number currently enrolled in upper primary schools of the state – in the age group of 11-14 years dropped out of schools in 2018-19, shows a survey.
The survey was conducted under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme launched by Union ministry of women and child development.
The survey shows that currently there are over 19 lakh girl students enrolled in class VI to VIII of government schools in 2018-19. The number of dropouts corresponds to one-fourth of the girls of the same age group currently studying in upper primary schools.
Education officials said that the girls had to drop out for reasons like lack of awareness about menstruation, post-puberty changes in the body and security concerns.
As per the survey, the maximum number of girls had dropped out of schools in Bahraich (39,132). The level of female literacy in the district is low at 22.78%, shows Census 2011.
Other districts with a high number of dropouts are Sitapur (35,098) and Shahjahanpur (22,101). The level of female literacy in Sitapur is 50.67% and 49.57% for Shahjahanpur.
Director (basic education), Sarvendra Vikram Singh, said, “Studies conducted to assess the reason behind the high dropout rate among girls show that after puberty, a family and society’s perception towards girls changes, especially in villages. Restriction imposed by family or society, and parents’ security concerns often force girls to stop studying in rural areas.”
Following the findings of the survey, the basic education department has decided to talk to families of such girls and encourage them to enrol in schools again.
In January, the 13th Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2018) published that 7.4% girls drop out of school between the age group of 11-14 years.