Scheme to combat student dropout rate

The Eleventh Five Year Plan will unfold a new method to combat the high dropout rates among tribal and Dalit students in the country.

Special residential Navodaya Schools having Classes I to XII would be opened in every district headquarters for tribal and Dalit children during the Plan period.

The scheme is proposed to be implemented by the Union HRD ministry, with Rs 1,000 crore being set aside for construction of the first 200 schools.

About 80 per cent of ST students and 72 per cent of SC students drop out before reaching Class X. This is after a 50 per cent dropout rate at the primary school level, compared to 35 per cent for general category, thus virtually leaving a handful of tribal students for higher education.

While Navodaya schools begin from Class V and involve entrance tests, the new schools will start from the primary level to rule out the need for preparations for admission tests and tuitions, which are beyond the means of the poor.

A Cabinet note regarding this proposal is ready with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. About 200 districts will be covered on a priority basis in the first year of the Plan period. Each school is to cost Rs 4 crore with a recurring annual expense of Rs 1 crore.

A note prepared by the Planning Commission says that the schools will have facilities for indoor games also. It says these schools could ideally have a 50-50 ratio of SC/ST with the rest for general category. But in areas of thick SC/ST population, up to 70 per cent seats would be given to SC/ST students.

The funding for the schools would be shared equally by the Tribal Sub Plan and general Plan funds.

The Eleventh Plan would also see expansion of facilities in the existing 508 Navodaya Schools to accommodate more SC/ST students. The scheme has also an option of permitting NGOs and private individuals to run such schools with a one-time grant of Rs 1 to 2 crore provided as incentive.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who has backed this scheme, has suggested the addition of 30 per cent more schools, aiming at 70 per cent seats for SC/ST students.

The commissioner of Navodaya Vidyalayas has agreed to run extra sections in Navodaya Schools to increase the capacity from 560 students to 1,000 students.

Advisor in Planning Commission S Chandrapal said that tribal students suffer cultural alienation in schools and often drop out.

"Hence the schools will teach in the local language for the first five years, while there will be teachers and personnel from the predominant community."