By the time they reach Grade 12, as much as 66.9 percent students drop out

Ruby Rauniyar / Kathmandu, July 24: The number of students dropping out of school after reaching higher grades has been increasing. According to the data published by the Center for Education and Human Resource Development (CEHRD), the challenge to keep students from dropping out of school after reaching higher grades in schools is increasing.

According to the data presented by the center, the retention rate of students in Grade 8 was 85.1 percent in the year 2078, but it decreased to 66.1 percent for Grade 10. This rate further drops in Grade 12. In Grade 12, many students leave the class midway and according to the statistics of 2078, the number of students attending class in Grade 12 is 33.1 percent.

Director General of CEHRD, Chudamani Paudel said that due to the existing poverty in the country, many students hardly survive up to the basic level after entering school, but are forced to start earning by the time they reach Grades 10 or 12.

In 2078, the retention rate of students in Grade 8 was 85.1 percent. The school retention rate in Grade 10 is limited to 66.1 percent. The data of 2078 for Grade 12 shows that only 33.1 percent of students are retained in the class. “The age of the children also increases as they climb the higher grades. They begin to understand family problems,” Director General Paudel told Republica, “The responsibility of the family falls on the children’s shoulders. They start helping their parents with work. Therefore, it seems that the number of children who drop out of school has increased rapidly.”

“It is clear how weak our educational level is because the student’s percentage does not even reach 50 percent,” said Paudel, “Now it is seen that the education institutions should increase investment in the level of children’s learning achievement.” Currently, 85 percent of the budget allocated for education is spent on the teachers’ salaries and allowances, so the amount is insufficient to increase the quality of education.

According to the data provided by the center, there are 46.5 percent female teachers at the junior level. In other words, although the presence of female teachers in teaching and learning at the primary level is good, there is less data at the secondary level. The number of female teachers at the secondary level is only 20.4 percent.

23.8 percent do not even complete basic education

Similarly, still 23.8 percent of children do not even complete basic education. Likewise, according to the data provided by the center, the literacy rate of those above six years is 78 percent, while the literacy rate of the age group of 15 to 24 years has reached 88.6 percent. Also, the literacy rate of the age group above 15 years is only 58 percent.