Nearly 73% students drop out before finishing higher secondary: Parliament panel flags ‘drastic decline’ in schools
Nearly 73% Students Drop Out Before Higher Secondary: Parliament Panel Report
Theindiapostdaily.com – A parliamentary committee has highlighted a concerning trend in India's education system, revealing that nearly 73 per cent of students drop out before completing higher secondary education. The Tenth Report (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) of the Committee on Estimates (2026-27) presented this finding to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, according to PTI. The report, titled "Budget and Policy aspects for providing Affordable and Quality Education in the Country including Review of Central Board of Secondary Education," underscores a drastic decline in both schools and student enrollment at advanced levels.
Declining School Infrastructure at Higher Levels
The committee observed that the number of schools at Secondary and Higher Secondary levels remains significantly lower compared to Primary and Upper Primary institutions. According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2024-25 data, India has 10,92,671 schools in total, encompassing government and government-aided institutions. Of these, 9,11,032 are primary schools, 4,12,805 are upper primary, 1,61,808 are secondary, and only 90,866 serve as higher secondary schools.
Student enrollment figures further illustrate this pattern. The UDISE 2025-26 report, released by the Ministry of Education on 7 July, shows that primary classes have 6,18,45,033 students, while upper primary (grades 6-8) has 4,08,93,978. Enrollment drops to 2,36,68,220 in secondary and falls to 1,64,17,949 in higher secondary. Additionally, government school enrollment declined by nearly 86 lakh between 2023-24 and 2025-26, while private unaided recognized schools gained over 88 lakh students during the same period.
"The committee are concerned to note this drastic decline in number of schools and students as education levels rises," the report stated. "From the above information, the Committee note that out of over 1 million government schools, the vast majority are only primary schools, and nearly 73% of students drop out before finishing higher secondary."
Recommendations for Educational Reform
To address this challenge, the committee has urged the Ministry of Education to prioritize upgrading existing primary and secondary schools into full higher secondary institutions. This approach aims to ensure physical accessibility for students across different communities and reduce the dropout rate. The committee emphasized that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, with most schools under State Governments and Union Territory administrations. Consequently, they recommended that the Ministry encourage all State and UT governments to establish more secondary and higher secondary schools to boost national enrollment.
The committee also highlighted the Samagra Shiksha scheme, which provides financial support to States and Union Territories for inclusive education of Divyang students. This scheme includes provisions for barrier-free infrastructure such as ramps, handrails, and accessible toilets, enabling children with disabilities to participate fully in school activities. The committee described the Ministry's approach to Divyang education as rights-based, inclusive, and holistic.
Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPnD) Act, 2016, children with benchmark disabilities are entitled to free education up to age 18. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 further reinforces a Zero Rejection Policy for children with disabilities, ensuring no child is denied schooling due to disability. The committee recommended that the Ministry adhere to yearly budget utilization targets for CwSN-related projects and complete special educator recruitment promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of students drop out before higher secondary? According to the parliamentary panel report, nearly 73 per cent of students drop out before finishing higher secondary education in India.
How many higher secondary schools exist in India? The UDISE 2024-25 data shows there are 90,866 higher secondary schools out of a total of 10,92,671 schools in the country.
What is the committee's main recommendation? The committee recommends upgrading existing primary and secondary schools into full higher secondary institutions to reduce student dropout rates.
Which scheme supports inclusive education for Divyang students? The Samagra Shiksha scheme provides financial support to State Governments and Union Territories for strengthening infrastructure and human resources for inclusive education of Divyang students.