5 Reasons Behind India's Rising School Dropout Rates in 2024

Do you know which country ranks 1st globally for the largest adolescent and youth population size? India! That should mean that we have the potential for the strongest force of smart young minds who are here to excel. However, that is not the case. Unfortunately, millions of these teens won't reach their highest potential, simply because they end up dropping out before completing elementary education. A survey we conducted with 50 schools suggested that 25% of students drop out of school due to socio-economic factors. But why are school dropout rates an issue in India?

5 major reasons why children drop out of school in India

Dropout rates have been a concern in the Indian education system for many social and economic reasons. Here are some of them:

1) School costs too much

Raise your hand if you’ve ever postponed buying something you wanted because you couldn’t afford it at the time. Well, imagine having to drop out of school entirely just because of money troubles. As harsh as it sounds, fees, books, uniforms, and more are costs families of marginalized children can’t afford. Without any financial help, parents are forced to ask their children to leave school, and we lose bright students just because of their socio-economic background. This further leads to child labor and other branched issues that majorly affect us as a society.

2) No bags, no books, no learning

Even if schools are equipped with classrooms, students do not have access to essential educational resources, such as a slate or a book. So why don't schools provide the resources for the children? It is a valid question to ask. However, the schools lack the funding that can cover operational costs while also providing educational resources. The lack of right resources demotivates the children to continue their educational journey, eventually leading them to drop out of school.

3) No exposure to technology

Would you be able to imagine life without technology? None of us can. Being handy with technology isn’t an add-on skill anymore; it’s an absolute must. Yet many Indian schools have to use ancient teaching methods because they don’t have access to technology. Many of these schools have a computer lab but no staff to teach the children or electricity to run the computers. Going to a school without computers or the internet puts students at a massive disadvantage compared to others worldwide who are tech-fluent from a young age. This puts parents under the impression that the child can learn without going to school, which leads to them dropping out.

4) All work and no play

Going to school should not just be about burying your nose in books all day! Kids need opportunities for fun activities like sports, music, art, and more. These help them explore talents, learn team-building skills, make friends, and not feel trapped in the classroom. Having no chances for play, music, sports, or art can quickly make the school day feel like a restrictive drag. Schools lacking such activities risk boring and stifling their students into dropping out.

5) Lack of parental awareness

Imagine your parents keeping you home from school to do chores and make money for the family instead. That's the sad situation for many kids whose parents simply don't realize just how crucial going to school truly is for their children's futures. They need help understanding all the wonderful opportunities and advantages an education opens up. With better awareness, more families could get motivated to truly value and prioritize keeping their kids in the classroom.

As we discuss these concerns, we are still barely scratching the surface of the complexities involved in getting children to school. The biggest challenge we face today is a change of mindset. Overcoming it requires a mindset change and collaborative efforts from the government, businesses, citizens, and parents to understand education's importance. Want to do your part and donate to education? Join us as we equip underserved children with school supplies, starting their journey toward a fun and impactful education. Every child deserves it!

Exclusively written for Giving for Good Foundation by Bhairavi Hiremath