Despite several efforts to keep children in schools, school dropout rate is still alarming in Makwanpur district, say authorities.

According to the data available at the District Education Development and Coordination Unit in Makwanpur, a total of 12,220 children left school before the completion of the academic year of 2018/19. The academic year begins from mid-April in the hill and Tarai districts across the country.

Krishna Prasad Paudel, an official at the unit, said the school dropout rate was 15.84 percent in 2018/19. “Almost all the dropout students are from community schools,” said Paudel, adding that although the dropout rate was decreasing in recent years, the number of out-of-school children was still very high in the district.

There are altogether 504 community schools in Makwanpur.

The dropout rate is quite high among children from impoverished communities like Chepang, Bankariya and Dalit, especially in the remote parts of the district.

As per the data, the dropout rate for girls is slightly higher than for boys. As many as 6,524 girls quit school in the middle of the session this past year, from a total of 12,220 students. According to the data, the highest dropout rate is among students in grade one, while the dropout rate is the least in grade 10. According to the office, 1,936 students left school in grade one in the last academic year while only 135 students left school in grade 10.

In an effort to keep the school dropout rate in check, government authorities have also launched various programmes in the district this past year. The government is providing free-of-cost education up to secondary level and launching an enrollment drive. Several local units have also been providing mid-day meals to decrease the dropout rate and provide nutritious food to school children.

The government authorities and stakeholders are concerned about the alarming dropout rate in the district. “It is not a good sign, of having more than 12,000 dropout children in the district. The problem should be taken seriously,” said Lilanath Gautam, chief at the Unit.

Officials at the Unit say that poor financial condition, food insecurity and lack of awareness among the guardians are the major causes behind the high dropout rate in the district.