According to recent data shared by Union Minister of State for Education, Subhas Sarkar, more than 19,000 students from OBC, SC, and ST categories dropped out from central universities, IITs, and IIMs during 2018-2023. The data was shared in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.
Number of dropouts from 2018-2023
According to the available records, the total number of dropouts from 2018 to 2023 in Central Universities (CUs), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in various courses is 19,256. Out of these, 14,446 students from the three categories dropped out from central universities during the period, 4,444 students dropped out from IITs, and 366 from IIMs, the minister said.
Reasons for Dropout
The minister stated that in the higher education sector, students have multiple options and often choose to migrate across institutions or from one course to another in the same institution. The migration or withdrawal, if any, is mainly on account of securing seats by the students in other departments or institutions of their choice or due to personal reasons. While these reasons may not be avoidable, there are other factors that contribute to the high dropout rate among students from marginalized communities.
Factors contributing to the high dropout rate
Experts have raised concerns over the high dropout rate among students from marginalized communities. Lack of financial support, inadequate academic preparation, and discrimination are some of the major factors contributing to the high dropout rate among students from OBC, SC, and ST categories.
Steps taken by the government
The government has taken various steps to address the issue and ensure that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their background. Some of these steps include:
- Fee reduction: The government has reduced fees in educational institutions to make education more accessible to students from marginalized communities.
- Establishment of more institutes: The government has established more educational institutions to provide more opportunities to students from marginalized communities.
- Scholarships: The government provides scholarships to students from economically weaker sections to help them pursue their education.
- Priority access to national level scholarships: Students from marginalized communities are given priority access to national level scholarships to help them pursue their education.
- Waiver of tuition fees in IITs: The government has waived tuition fees in IITs for students from SC and ST categories.
- Grant of national scholarships under Central Sector Scheme: The government provides national scholarships to students from SC and ST categories under the Central Sector Scheme.
- Scholarships in institutes: The government provides scholarships to students from marginalized communities in various institutes.
Measures to address the issue
While the steps taken by the government are commendable, more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem. To address the issue, experts suggest that the government should take the following measures:
- Providing financial assistance: The government should provide financial assistance to students from marginalized communities to help them pursue their education.
- Improving the quality of education: The government should take steps to improve the quality of education in government-run educational institutions to ensure that all students receive a quality education.
- Ensuring equal opportunities: The government should ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to pursue their education.
- Encouraging students: The government should encourage students to pursue higher education by providing them with incentives such as scholarships, fellowships, and grants.
- Addressing discrimination: The government should take steps to address discrimination in educational institutions to ensure that all students are treated equally.
The high dropout rate among students from OBC, SC, and ST categories is a matter of concern. While the government has taken steps to address the issue, more needs to be done to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have access to quality education. Addressing the root causes of the problem, such as financial difficulties and discrimination, is essential to ensure that all students have the opportunity to pursue their education and reach their full potential.