The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Dropout rate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Dropout rate

Sir, — The Government's analysis of the high dropout rate of over 50 per cent in elementary schools (Feb. 22) seems to miss one obvious factor — poverty. Many children are forced to drop out of schools because their families need the money they can earn. As long as the Government does not admit this, programmes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan will continue to be schemes with wrong priorities in which money is pumped in vain.

K. Chandrasekar,
Chennai

Sir, — Lack of adequate facilities, though serious, cannot be reason enough for the high dropout rate. The uneducated poor parents should be convinced of the importance of education. Either poverty must be eliminated or there should be a willingness among parents to bear with penury for the sake of education.

K. Ganapathi,
Coimbatore, T.N.

Sir, — Primary education, which should be topmost on the development agenda, is unfortunately being neglected. Teachers cannot be blamed for absenteeism. Only if there are good buildings and adequate infrastructure will they be motivated to work.

M.V. Ramanamma,
Warangal, A.P.

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