Education / Secondary School Dropout Rate in Odisha Shows Downward Trend; Minister Presents UDISE+ Data in Assembly
·43 mins ago·2 min read
Key Points
Odisha's secondary-level dropout rate declined from 15% in 2024-25 to 14.1% in 2025-26, according to UDISE+ data presented in the Assembly by Minister Nityananda Gond.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 25: Odisha’s secondary-level school dropout rate has declined from 15% in 2024-25 to 14.1% in 2025-26, indicating a downward trend in students leaving school before completing the level.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond informed the Odisha Assembly about the latest figures while replying to a question from Bhawanipatna MLA Sagar Charan Das.
According to the data cited by the minister, the secondary-level dropout rate stood at 12.8% in 2023-24 before rising to 15% in 2024-25. The latest UDISE+ data puts the rate at 14.1% for 2025-26.
The decline means the proportion of students leaving the education system at the secondary level has come down compared with the previous academic year. However, the figure also indicates that a significant proportion of students continue to leave school before completing the level.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond informed the Odisha Assembly about the latest figures while replying to a question from Bhawanipatna MLA Sagar Charan Das.
According to the data cited by the minister, the secondary-level dropout rate stood at 12.8% in 2023-24 before rising to 15% in 2024-25. The latest UDISE+ data puts the rate at 14.1% for 2025-26.
The decline means the proportion of students leaving the education system at the secondary level has come down compared with the previous academic year. However, the figure also indicates that a significant proportion of students continue to leave school before completing the level.
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What Is The Dropout Rate?
The dropout rate refers to the proportion of students from a particular cohort enrolled at a given level of education who are no longer enrolled in any grade in the following academic year. 'Unified District Information System for Education Plus' (UDISE+) uses dropout rate alongside promotion and repetition rates to assess student progression through the school system.
A lower dropout rate generally indicates that more students are continuing their education instead of leaving the school system prematurely. Tracking the indicator helps governments and education authorities identify where interventions such as financial support, better school infrastructure, counselling, transport, remedial education and other retention measures may be needed.
Also Read: Odisha Unifies Class 10 and 12 under One Board
Over 1.36 Lakh Children Still Out Of School
The minister also provided data on children who remain outside the formal school system in Odisha.
According to the Odisha Education Survey, as many as 2,16,131 children were identified as out of school. Of them, 79,996 have subsequently been brought back into the education system.
However, 1,36,135 children are still out of school, according to the figures presented in the Assembly.
The dropout rate refers to the proportion of students from a particular cohort enrolled at a given level of education who are no longer enrolled in any grade in the following academic year. 'Unified District Information System for Education Plus' (UDISE+) uses dropout rate alongside promotion and repetition rates to assess student progression through the school system.
A lower dropout rate generally indicates that more students are continuing their education instead of leaving the school system prematurely. Tracking the indicator helps governments and education authorities identify where interventions such as financial support, better school infrastructure, counselling, transport, remedial education and other retention measures may be needed.
Also Read: Odisha Unifies Class 10 and 12 under One Board
Over 1.36 Lakh Children Still Out Of School
The minister also provided data on children who remain outside the formal school system in Odisha.
According to the Odisha Education Survey, as many as 2,16,131 children were identified as out of school. Of them, 79,996 have subsequently been brought back into the education system.
However, 1,36,135 children are still out of school, according to the figures presented in the Assembly.
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