The dropout rate of students in these schools has dipped by more than 2%. Municipal school authorities also expect an increase in the number of students, which has seen a declining trend for many years.
After several years of posting dismal figures vis-à-vis retention of students, municipal schools are now showing remarkable improvement, with the dropout rate going down significantly in the present academic year. The dropout rate of students in these schools has dipped by more than 2%. Municipal school authorities also expect an increase in the number of students, which has seen a declining trend for many years.
A student who does not attend school for three consecutive months is considered a dropout. The drop out rate in municipal schools was 6.58 in 2008-09, which has come down to 4.39 in 2009-10. The drop out rate of boy and girl students has come down to 4.28 and 4.50 last year from 6.29 and 6.89 respectively in 2008-09.
Out of a total of 462 municipal primary schools in the city, the drop out rate of around 70 schools has come down to 0%. However, almost the same number of schools has witnessed a consistent dropout rate of more than 10%. "Our prime concern is to bring down the dropout rate in these schools," said Lagdhir Desai, administration officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board.
The board is planning action research on students dropping out, to reach the main cause of the same, and will also start extra coaching classes for them to improve education levels, said Desai.
Manu Rawal, chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board, attributed the decline in the student dropout rate in municipal schools to better relations with parents, along with various government-sponsored schemes such as Vidyalaxmi and Vidyadeep bonds, mid-day meals and distribution of free education kits.
"We wrote letters to parents to create awareness among them at the time of the enrolment campaign, as well as during Diwali vacations and when annual results are declared," said Rawal. Moreover, the municipal school board authorities stay connected with parents to inform them of the progress of their wards.
The school board authorities also expect an improvement in the number of students in municipal schools. The authorities expect the number of students to cross the 35,000 mark in academic year 2010-11, compared to last year's 27,854.
The school board will also arrange special functions at schools that have completed 50 or 100 years of existence.
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