Dropout on rise in secondary grades, retention better

ODISHA's dropout rate at secondary level (Class IX to XII) and middle level (Class VI to VIII) of education has gone up marginally.

- DIANA SAHU @Bhubaneswar

However, the retention rate of students, which is the percentage of students who enrol in a school and continue over a specific period of time, has also increased since the last academic year, revealed the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 report released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday.

In the 2023-24 academic session, the dropout rate at secondary level stood at 9.1 per cent (pc), 2 pc at middle level and 0.5 pc at preparatory level (Class III to V). This rate increased to 9.8 pc at secondary level, 3.2 pc at middle level and 1.4 pc at preparatory level in 2024-25 academic session.