School dropout rate in Karnataka drops at primary level, but spikes at high school

The dropout rate of students in schools in Karnataka has been increasing year on year in the last five years. While it has improved at the lower primary level, down to 0% now, it has increased at the high school level. Overall, the school dropout rate, which was 19.63% in 2020-21, has increased to 20.4% by 2024-25.

Data tabled by the Union Education Ministry in the Rajya Sabha, in response to a question raised by Thoothukudi MP K. Kanimozhi, shows that compared to lower primary and upper primary schools, the number of dropouts is higher at the high school level.

Compared to other categories, the dropout rate of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students is the highest.

Currently, 46,174 government schools and about 20,000 private schools are functioning across the State.

In 2020-21, the dropout rate at the lower primary level was 1.1%, at upper primary level 1.97%, and at high school level 16.56%.

But by 2024-25, the dropout rate at lower primary level had come down to 0%, while at the upper primary level it was 2.1%, and at the high school increased to 18.3%.

The dropout rate in high school, which was 16.56% in 2020-21, increased sharply to 22.1% by 2023-24 and stood at 18.3% by 2024-25.

SC/ST students

The dropout rate of SC/ST students in schools in the State is particularly high.

In 2024-25, it was 0.6% at the lower primary level, 3% at the upper primary level, and 31.9% at the high school level. This places Karnataka at fifth place among the States with the highest dropout rate of SC students after Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Karnataka is in the third place in the country in the dropout rate of ST students, with 0.1% in lower primary, 2.8% in upper primary, and 24.1% at high school level.

Reasons

Developmental Educationist Niranjanaradhya.V.P., said, “Among the students who are dropping out of school, the number of children from government schools has increased. In private schools, the attendance of children is constantly monitored through parents’ meetings and other mechanisms. But there is no such system in government schools.

“In addition, there are about 60,000 teacher posts vacant in government schools in the State, and there are many single-teacher schools. And most of the schools suffer from lack of basic facilities, which has led to the increase in the dropout rate.”

Besides, poverty and migration are also factors, and the government had failed to address these problems effectively, he alleged.

Speaking about the high dropout rate at the high school level, he said that the main reason was the distance of the school and lack of transport system.

“There should be one high school for every 2-3 km. But the distance between the students’ homes and schools has increased, and the lack of proper transport system has also led to the increase in dropout. The government has also stopped the cycle distribution scheme for high school students. Girls, especially those from far-flung schools, are dropping out of school,” he contended.

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa said, “The poor, rural and socially and economically backward children are studying in government schools in large numbers. But the lack of pre-school facilities in these schools, and the fact that pre-primary, upper primary and high schools are located in different places, are the main reasons for the increase in dropout. Our government has emphasised on starting LKG, UKG, bilingual sections in government schools. In addition, Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) are being started to provide education from pre-school to class 12 under one roof. Due to this, the dropout rate will reduce significantly in the coming years.”

He added: “In addition, midday meals, egg, banana and hot milk are being given five days a week, and shoes, socks and textbooks are provided for free to promote children’s education.”

Published – February 20, 2026 11:30 pm IST