DIMAPUR, Aug 15 – The elementary school dropouts in Nagaland stands at 7.4 per cent, according to a study on Elementary School Dropouts in Nagaland conducted by the State Council of Educational Research and Training.
As per the overall findings of the study, the total number of dropouts in the 554 schools covered is 8,495 during 2008-2010 (standard I to VIII) with male dropouts standing at 4,571 and females at 3,924.
Kiphire district has the highest dropout rate of 13 per cent while Longleng district has the lowest percentage of 3.5 per cent. The second highest rate of dropouts is in Mon district with 11.5 per cent followed by Zunheboto district with 10.4 per cent. Dimapur has a dropout rate of 9.7 per cent while Tuensang district has 8.9, Phek 5.2, Peren, Kohima 4.9, Mokokchung 4.6 and Wokha 4.2.
The objective of the study, conducted in 554 government elementary schools representing about 36 per cent schools in the State, was to find out the dropout rate as well as the cause.
On the underlying factors, engagement in domestic and field work has been identified as the foremost reason followed by lack of support from parents, poverty, shortage of teachers, discouraging school environment and lack of facilities in school, problem of medium of instruction, under qualified and untrained teachers and wrong system of examination.
Towards mitigation, the report suggested strengthening of adult education programmes to provide education to parents regarding child development, family planning, economic improvement techniques and improvement of physical-moral environment of family.
Other proposals include opening of middle schools where there is none in the neighbourhood, opening and improvement of medical care systems in rural areas, reforming examination system through continuous comprehensive evaluation system, continuation of mid day meal as it attracts children to school and emphasis on co-curricular activities.
It also suggested that the State Government along with the community should provide adequate facilities to schools besides framing and adopting a clear language formula to be implemented compulsorily all over the State.
Need for qualified and trained teachers as well as following minute investigation on curriculum and textbooks to see whether the existing ones serve the needs and aspirations of children were highlighted.