Karnataka's school dropout rate alarming at 22.2%, exceeds national average
New Delhi: Karnataka’s secondary school dropout rate stands at a troubling 22.2%, significantly higher than the national average of 14.1%, according to a report by the Union Ministry of Education.
The 2023–24 figures, cited by Deccan Herald on Thursday, ranks Karnataka among the states with the highest dropout rates in classes 9 and 10, alongside Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tripura, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
Among southern states, Karnataka fares particularly poorly. Kerala reports a dropout rate of just 3.41%, followed by Tamil Nadu (7.68%), Telangana (11.43%), and Andhra Pradesh (12.48%). Only Bihar (25.63%) and Assam (25.07%) have higher dropout rates than Karnataka.
A senior ministry official quoted by DH stressed that the high dropout rate is a major obstacle to achieving the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims for a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2030.
In response to these figures, the Ministry of Education has urged high-burden states to conduct door-to-door surveys in school catchment areas to identify out-of-school children and ensure their re-enrolment.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
