Schools in Tanahun see high school dropout rate

by Amarraj Naharki,Tanahun, Sept. 15: In Tanahun, more than half of the students drop out of school without reaching secondary level.

Likewise, most of these students come from economically marginalised and underprivileged communities.

According to Krishna Prasad Shrestha, Chief of the Education Development and Coordination unit, Tanahun, 58 per cent of students enrolled in grade 1 drop out by the time they reach Grade 12.

Out of them, 57.9 per cent are males and 57 per cent are females.

Only 41.9 per cent of students have continued their studies to secondary level, said Shrestha. 

The number of Students enrolled at grade 1 and continuing to grade 5 is 94 per cent. However, the number of students enrolled at grade 6 and continuing to 8 is 93.3 per cent. Only 71.6 per cent of students remain in grades 9 to 10. Students in grade 11 who continued to grade 12 recorded only 41.9 percent.

The reasons students dropped out of their studies include a lack of employment, poor economic conditions, and limited accessibility, said Shrestha.

Shrestha said that the economic and social pressure that the teenagers have been facing has led to a rise in the dropout rate lately. Also, the family background and lack of guidelines are major factors in such conditions, said Shrestha.

Kedar Raj Acharya, Chief of the Education Department of Vyas Municipality, suggested that every parent should support and provide time to their kids.

“Only a strong partnership between the school and parents can help schools to retain students,” said Acharya.