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According to the Education Development and Coordination Unit, 5,768 students have dropped out of school in the district. In the academic year 2023, the number of students enrolled from grades 1 to 9 was 83,672. However, by the time these students moved to the next grade level, only 77,904 students remained in the school. Branch Officer Sher Bahadur Rokaya of the Education Development and Coordination Unit stated that 5,768 students dropped out of school from one academic year to the next. Surya Bahadur Khatri, the Chief of the Education Development and Coordination Unit, stated that major reasons for students dropping out of school include weak economic conditions leading to child labor, low income due to lack of employment opportunities, children accompanying parents who go for work, early marriage, the stereotypical social belief associated with attending school, and habits such as drug use.

Matiram Sharma, the principal of Baglamukhi Radhakrishna Tharu Secondary School, stated that factors such as lack of employment opportunities despite education, inability to afford books and supplies due to poverty, addiction to mobile phones, and excessive misuse of mobile phones have led to an increase in school dropouts. He further mentioned, ‘Students from families with uneducated parents are more likely to drop out of school, especially those studying in grades 8 and 10. Tirtharaj Poudel, the chairperson of the School Management Committee at Janata Secondary School, Rammapur, emphasized the need for practical and life-oriented teaching methods, creating an educational environment in schools, and conducting student-friendly extracurricular activities to retain students. He also highlighted the importance of raising awareness among parents about the value of education. If parents become more aware and understand the situation of their children, students can be retained in school, and the number of school dropouts can be reduced.

According to Article 31, Sub-article 2 of the Constitution of Nepal, every citizen has the right to free and compulsory education at the basic level and the right to free education at the secondary level from the state. However, due to reasons such as economic hardship and early marriage, the number of students dropping out of school is increasing daily.

 

Prakash Poudel