Karnataka Faces Challenge in Retaining Girl Students in High Schools A recent central report has revealed a concerning trend in Karnataka, where the dropout rate of girl students in secondary education remains higher than in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The UDISE+ 2025-26 report, presented in the Lok Sabha, highlights that Karnataka ranks first among major states in this regard, with 13.9% of girls dropping out of secondary schools. This rate is significantly higher than the national average of 8%, raising alarms about the state’s progress in education. The report underscores that while Bihar, once considered one of the most educationally backward states, has made notable improvements—reducing its girl dropout rate from 25.1% to 9.1%—Karnataka’s situation remains troubling. Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, reports a dropout rate of 7.3%, which is lower than Karnataka’s. States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have achieved even better results, with dropout rates of 3% and 3.2%, respectively. Experts note that Karnataka’s progress, though slightly better than previous years, still lags behind other states. The report attributes the high dropout rate to a combination of economic, social, and infrastructural challenges. Education experts cite factors such as financial strain on families, the burden of domestic responsibilities, early marriages, and inadequate school facilities as key contributors. Additionally, social norms and cultural pressures are cited as barriers to girls continuing their education. For instance, many families prioritize boys’ education over girls’, and the lack of safe and supportive learning environments exacerbates the issue. The data also reveals that Karnataka’s dropout rate has decreased marginally over the past few years. In 2023-24, the rate was 19.6%, and it dropped to 14.6% in 2024-25.#karnataka #uttar_pradesh #lok_sabha #bihar #udise_plus_2025_26
