The 2024 Right to Education (RTE) Retention Survey reveals a 93.2% retention rate for students enrolled under the RTE provision, with Odisha and Uttarakhand showing higher retention compared to Chhattisgarh. Conducted between March and April 2024, the survey included responses from 4,540 parents and guardians, stratified by state and gender, achieving a 67% response rate.
Retention Rates:
- 2022-23 Cohort: 93.2% retention rate
- 2021-22 Cohort: 86.5% retention rate
- Dropout Rate: 0.5% for both cohorts
The study observed a higher rate of school switching among students from the 2021-22 cohort. Additionally, girls had higher retention rates than boys in the 2021-22 cohort, while retention rates were nearly equal between genders in the 2022-23 cohort.
Survey Objectives: The survey aimed to improve understanding of child retention and social inclusion in schools under RTE 12(1)(c). It assessed dropout trends, compared retention rates across cohorts, and examined social and financial discrimination. The findings indicated low social discrimination but noted some financial discrimination, signaling progress toward social integration under RTE.
Collaborative Effort: The 2024 RTE Retention Survey was launched by Indus Action, a policy implementation organization, in collaboration with Georgetown University, US, and students from the Master’s in International Development Policy (MIDP) program. The study focused on the effectiveness of the RTE provision and the suitability of private schools for disadvantaged children.
Promoting Educational Equality: The Right to Education Act of 2009, which mandates free and compulsory education for classes I-VIII and reserves 25% of seats in private unaided schools for economically weaker and disadvantaged children, aims to promote educational equality and social inclusion.
Tarun Cherukuri, co-founder and CEO of Indus Action, emphasized the importance of ensuring that families earning less than Rs 10,000 ($135) monthly have full access to welfare entitlements for quality education, health, and livelihoods. He highlighted the challenges posed by over 500 schemes that often fail to deliver impactful results, making the execution and implementation of the Right to Education a critical focus for the organization.
