Basta MLA Subasini Jena Raises Dropout Issue in Assembly : 300 students brought back to school; 29 more to be restored soon, says Minister
Balasore – 29/11 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): During the Question Hour on the second day of the ongoing Winter Session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, Basta MLA Subasini Jena raised questions regarding the dropout figures in primary and secondary schools of the Basta constituency. She also sought details of the steps being taken by the Government to reduce dropout rates in Balasore district.
Along with her main question, she raised two supplementary questions. She asked why the current secondary dropout rate in the state stands at 27.3 percent and what key reasons have been identified by the School and Mass Education Department for students leaving primary and secondary schooling. She further questioned how many dropout students across the state, including Balasore district, were identified and brought back to school in the last two years. She also sought clarification on the special measures adopted in tribal and minority-dominated regions where dropout rates are comparatively higher.
Responding to her questions, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond outlined several initiatives undertaken by the Government to curb dropout rates. He said that through child-tracking surveys, the Aas Sikhiba (Let’s Go to School) campaign, interactions with parents, and regular awareness programmes, the department has been working to bring children back to school.
The Minister acknowledged that dropout rates remain higher in tribal and minority-dominated areas and informed the House that the Madho Singh Yojana has been implemented to address this gap.
He added that out of the 329 identified dropout students in the Basta constituency, 300 have already been brought back to school, and the remaining 29 will be reinstated very soon.
