India’s ambitious plan to build a skilled workforce is missing a crucial step—addressing the gaps in its education system. Without a solid educational foundation, skill development programs struggle to enable beneficiaries to enter the formal sector. In September 2024, the Ministry of Skill Development published a report highlighting the country’s efforts to equip its youth with employable skills. With a median age of 28, India aims to harness its demographic dividend, but there is a gap in linking education and skills that must be closed for long-term success.
The Dropout Problem in India
Despite various government initiatives aimed at promoting universal education, dropout rates in India remain a significant obstacle. According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), the secondary school dropout rate was 12.6% in the 2021-2022 academic year, with even higher rates in rural areas and among disadvantaged communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and minorities.
These dropouts result from several interrelated factors—economic hardship, cultural pressures, and inadequate school infrastructure. Many families in rural areas prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term educational aspirations, causing children to leave school early to support their families. Gender disparities and caste discrimination further exacerbate the issue, making it difficult for students, especially girls, to continue their education.
Linking Education with Skills
The consequences of high dropout rates extend far beyond individual communities. They limit social mobility, reinforce gender inequality, and hinder national economic growth. Programs like the National Skill Development Mission, while focused on upskilling youth, have yet to address the critical linkage between formal education and vocational skills.
Without basic education, even the best skill development programs fail to provide access to formal employment. Initiatives like the Nai Manzil programme, launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2015, attempt to bridge this gap by combining formal education with skills training. Targeting minority students, Nai Manzil has helped close to 100,000 youths from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, providing them with both education and employable skills.
The programme offers six months of education followed by three months of skills training, enabling participants to earn secondary-level education certificates and skill qualifications. With post-placement support, it also ensures beneficiaries gain meaningful employment, preferably within the formal sector.
Conclusion
India’s dropout crisis requires a comprehensive approach—improving educational infrastructure, aligning curriculum with industry needs, and providing targeted interventions for marginalized groups. Programs like Nai Manzil are critical to bridging the gap between education and skills, but more must be done. For India to build a truly skilled workforce, initiatives like the National Skill Development Mission must integrate education as a fundamental component of skill development programs.
