Now Reading: Parliamentary panel flags 73% dropout rate, 56% NCERT vacancies
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Parliamentary panel flags 73% dropout rate, 56% NCERT vacancies
A parliamentary committee has reported that nearly 73% of students drop out before finishing higher secondary, as schools at higher levels are far fewer than primary schools. The Tenth Report of the…
The Story in Brief
A parliamentary committee has reported that nearly 73% of students drop out before finishing higher secondary, as schools at higher levels are far fewer than primary schools. The Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates for 2026-27, tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, also found 56% of sanctioned posts at NCERT vacant and 44% of positions at CBSE unfilled. The panel warned that staff shortages could affect exam safety and quality at CBSE, which runs major national board exams.
The committee noted that out of over 10.92 lakh schools, only 90,866 are higher secondary, while primary schools number 9.11 lakh. It also flagged a severe lack of disabled-friendly infrastructure: only 5.23 lakh schools have accessible toilets for children with disabilities, and budget utilisation for such facilities was meagre. The Ministry of Education has been urged to upgrade existing schools and fast-track recruitment.
The Indian Opinion
Politicians often boast of India's school enrolment numbers, but the committee's report exposes a hollow pyramid and a dysfunctional bureaucracy. The 73% dropout rate and the 56% vacancy at NCERT, the body shaping the NEP, undercut any claim of serious reform. Relying on contractual staff for board exams is a gamble with children's futures. The real test: will the Ministry present a concrete plan to upgrade at least 1,000 primary schools to higher secondary in the next year, and fill all vacant posts in NCERT and CBSE by a fixed deadline?
Sources (2): indiatoday.in, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
