There is a disconcerting rate of school drop outs in Palamu district.

An official data of 'shishu panji updation work of the year 2024-25 Palamu' makes an alarming reading of the drop outs in the government's primary, middle and secondary schools.

Naudeeha Bazar block's government schools numbering more than 125 have recorded the highest number of drop outs in both the categories of age group 6 to 14 years and 14 to 18 years.

The drop outs under the Naudeeha Bazar's schools stand at 448 and 348 respectively for the year 2024-25. 

Deputy commissioner Shashi Ranjan speaking to this correspondent said " The drop out rates in government schools under Naudeeha Bazar block is a matter of deep concern. It is definitely very high here."

"I will visit some of the schools here with my team to ascertain the causes behind such a huge drop out." added the DC Shashi Ranjan.

In sharp contrast to this pathetic condition of drop outs in Naudeeha Bazar's government schools, particularly vulnerable tribal people dominated block Ramgarh in Palamu district fares far better than Naudeeha Bazar's schools.

Here in the PVTG dominated Ramgarh block no drop out was recorded under the category of age 14 to 18 years in the shishu panji of the year 2024-25.

It's just 9 drop outs in the category of 6 to 14 years in the year 2024-25.

There are 2,564 government schools in Palamu district including primary, middle, secondary, plus two, residentials ones of girls and SC and ST, school for children's of incarcerated naxals etc.

This newspaper has a copy of the shishu panji updation work of the year 2024-25.

Multiple factors were identified for the drop outs here.

First during the Mahua season which lasts for two and a half months children of the elementary education in the government schools abandon their schools, join their mothers in collecting Mahua fruits that bring them money to last in the rainy season.

Mothers discourage their children to go to government schools and instead pull them to the Mahua trees.

Two, measles afflictions very common during the fluctuating season also drive away the children from the government schools.

A headmaster of a government middle school requesting for anonymity said "Measles afflictions take away at least three or four children from the schools every year. They don't rejoin the schools on getting well."

More than 2,250 children of the government schools here in the have been identified as drop outs/ out of the enrollment of the government schools in the year 2024-25.

DC Shashi Ranjan was most candid when he said" The elementary schools behave quite bizarre. Mid day meals are shown on papers to be cooked even for children absenting themselves from the schools for days and weeks together."

"Again there are children who possess dual enrollment. One in the government elementary school and the other in any private school." revealed the DC.

He agreed to say"School drop outs are not merely a parent child issue. It's a socio economic issue where the economy backseats education." 

An interactive session with the parents, teachers and Didis of the aagan badi kendras was held in Daltonganj on Friday under the aegis of School Ruar 2025.

School Ruar is no Greek. It's a Santhali term meaning thereby back to school.