Delhi Government Schools Experience Alarming Rise in Male Student Dropouts
A concerning trend has emerged in Delhi's government schools, with a recent study highlighting a significant increase in dropout rates among male students at the upper primary and secondary levels during the 2024-25 academic year. This development comes despite the Capital maintaining near-zero dropout rates at the primary level for an entire decade, raising questions about educational retention strategies.
Statistical Findings from the Directorate Report
The comprehensive report, prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics—Delhi's nodal department for statistical data collection and analysis—reveals stark numbers. In the upper primary stage, dropout rates among boys climbed to 1.3% in 2024-25, more than double the 0.6% recorded in 2023-24. This upward trajectory indicates a growing challenge in keeping male students engaged through their middle school years.
While Delhi's overall upper primary dropout rate of approximately 0.8% places it among better-performing regions like Telangana, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Goa, the gender disparity within the Capital remains troubling. Nationally, states such as Nagaland (11.6%), Bihar (9.3%), and Meghalaya (7.8%) continue to struggle with much higher dropout rates at this educational stage.
Secondary Education Presents Even Greater Challenges
The situation becomes more pronounced at the secondary level, where boys recorded a dropout rate of about 9.1% in Classes IX-X during 2024-25, compared to approximately 5.8% for girls. Although these figures represent significant improvement from 2017-18, when dropout rates stood at nearly 19% for boys and 16% for girls, the current numbers still indicate that many students leave school before completing Class X.
Government officials have acknowledged these retention challenges, noting that despite gains in girl student enrollment and teacher numbers, keeping students in school after foundational years remains difficult. "Delhi's dropout patterns could reflect an older student population juggling school with work," explained a senior official familiar with the report.
Broader Context and Ongoing Investigations
The official further contextualized the findings within national trends, pointing to data from the Unified District Information System and the Education Ministry that shows overall enrollment falling across India over the past three years, largely due to demographic changes. This broader perspective suggests that Delhi's challenges are part of larger educational shifts affecting the country.
In response to these concerning patterns, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in Delhi has initiated an ongoing study to examine the underlying reasons behind student dropouts across all school stages. This research aims to identify specific factors contributing to the gender disparity and develop targeted interventions to improve retention rates.
The report underscores the need for focused attention on male student retention in Delhi's government schools, particularly as students transition from primary to upper primary and secondary education. While the Capital has made commendable progress in certain areas, these latest findings highlight persistent gaps that require immediate policy attention and community engagement to ensure equitable educational outcomes for all students.
