School Dropouts Jump 78% in Mewat in 2 Yrs

School dropout rates increased by 78.12% over the course of two academic years in Mewat region of Rajasthan, data from the state education department showed.

- Suresh Foujdar

BHARATPUR: The spike in dropouts has raised concern in the region, notorious for its rising cases of cybercrime and fraud, officials said.

The Mewat region comprises three districts -- Bharatpur, Deeg and Alwar -- and is further classified into five blocks -- Kaman, Deeg, Kumher, Nagar, and Pahari. As per the state education department, 171 students dropped out from schools in Mewat in the current academic year, compared to 130 in 2023-2024 and 96 in 2022-2023.

Deeg district education officer Manoj Khurana said that the region has been "battling low literacy rate" as many people do not want to send their children to school.

"However, the department is doing door-to-door surveys to find out students who dropped out and convince their parents to send them to schools," the official said.

As per the data, Pahadi block recorded the highest student dropouts with 76 in the current academic year. Kaman previously had the maximum with 61 in 2023-2024, 55 in 2022-2023.

Khurana pointed out that Mewat has become synonymous with cybercrime, and many enter the world of crime at a "young stage".