India is facing a significant challenge in its educational landscape, with more than 1.17 million children identified as out of school for the fiscal year 2024-25. The data was presented by Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, revealing the extent of the issue.
Tracked through the government’s PRABANDH portal, which monitors school enrollment, retention, and achievement metrics, the data highlights that Uttar Pradesh is the state with the highest number of out-of-school children, totaling 784,228. Other states with significant figures include Jharkhand with 65,070 and Assam with 63,848.
Out-of-school children (OoSC) are defined as those who are either not enrolled in school or have dropped out due to absenteeism without notice for 45 consecutive days. These children are typically aged 6 to 14. The government is working to address both the enrollment challenges and the issue of school dropouts through various initiatives.
While most states are grappling with high numbers of OoSC, some regions report minimal figures. For instance, Sikkim has the lowest number of out-of-school children in the country, with just 74 children. In contrast, the Union territories of Ladakh and Lakshadweep reported zero cases of out-of-school children.
The Ministry of Education continues to focus on reducing these numbers by strengthening programs aimed at retention, inclusive education, and addressing the barriers preventing children from attending school.
