Government Initiatives and Challenges in Reducing Dropout Rates among Tribal Students in Kerala

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, led by Shri Durgadas Uikey, has addressed the challenge of participation and dropout rates among Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in Kerala. The report notes that various government schemes, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) and scholarship programs, aim to increase enrollment and prevent dropouts among tribal students. The data provided highlights the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for ST students across different educational levels and addresses the ongoing effort to establish educational infrastructures and support systems. While dropout rates have shown improvement due to these initiatives, challenges remain, with notable dropout rates still being observed, particularly at the secondary level. Despite these challenges, initiatives like TALASH and collaborations for setting up sports training centers showcase promising efforts towards holistic student development. The government continues to focus on reducing dropout rates by enhancing educational support for tribal communities through tailored programs and scholarships, with significant progress evident in the improved GER of ST students.

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