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International Journal of Education & Applied Sciences Research

DEMYSTIFYING THE REASONS OF DROPOUTS IN GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOLS IN NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Samara Chauhan, Dr. Rishi Manrai

Samara Chauhan, Amity International School, New Delhi

Dr. Rishi Manrai, Amity University Haryana

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17959567 Page No : 83-98

Published Online : 2025-07-06

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Abstract:

This study explores the underlying factors contributing to high school dropouts in government institutions across Delhi-NCR, focusing on the socio-economic, infrastructural, pedagogical, and cultural determinants influencing students’ educational continuity. Using primary data collected from selected government high schools, supplemented by secondary literature, the analysis identifies poverty, distance to school, poor academic performance, early marriage, and parental disengagement as significant contributors to dropout behavior. While recent government initiatives—such as infrastructural upgrades and scholarship schemes—have improved retention rates, gaps remain in awareness, implementation, and socio-cultural support. The research highlights that while school facilities and teaching quality have improved considerably, social attitudes, financial stress, and lack of life skills education continue to hinder sustained attendance. The study concludes that holistic reforms encompassing teacher sensitization, digital inclusion, community engagement, and student counselling are vital for improving retention. Addressing these systemic barriers is essential to achieve the goals of NEP 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all.
Keywords: Dropouts, Government Schools, Poverty, Parental Support, Gender, Education Policy, Delhi-NCR.

References

Azim Premji Foundation. (2021). Loss of learning during the pandemic: Findings from field studies. Bengaluru: Azim Premji University.
Bajpai, N., & Jha, R. (2019). Policy perspectives on secondary education in India: Challenges and opportunities. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Blue, D., & Cook, J. E. (2004). High school dropouts: Can we reverse the stagnation in school graduation. Study of High School Restructuring, 1(2), 1-11.
Bose, A. (2017). Infrastructure and quality in government schools: An assessment. Economic and Political Weekly, 52(8), 43–51.
Chatterji, P., & DeSimone, J. (2005). Adolescent drinking and high school dropout.
Choudhury, P. (2019). Social exclusion and school dropout: A study of marginalized communities. Indian Journal of Social Development, 19(2), 89–104.
Goel, S., & Husain, Z. (2018). Gender, caste, and education in India: A cohort-wise study of drop-out from schools. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 58, 54-68.
Government of India, Ministry of Education. (2023). Educational statistics at a glance 2023. New Delhi: Government of India Press.
Hawkins, R. L., Jaccard, J., & Needle, E. (2013). Nonacademic factors associated with dropping out of high school: Adolescent problem behaviors. Journal of the society for social work and research, 4(2), 58-75.
Jain, M., & Agarwal, R. (2020). Parental education and school dropout among adolescents in India. Journal of Education and Human Development, 9(1), 12–24.
Jha, J., & Kelleher, F. (2006). Boys’ underachievement in education: An exploration in selected Commonwealth countries. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.
Kishore, A. N., & Shaji, K. S. (2012). School dropouts: examining the space of reasons. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(4), 318-323.
Kumar, A. (2020). Psychological factors in school dropout: A study of adolescents in India. Indian Journal of Psychology and Education, 10(1), 55–68.
Kumar, P., & Gupta, N. (2018). Gender dimensions of school dropout: Evidence from rural India. International Journal of Social Sciences, 7(3), 144–156.
Latif, A., Choudhary, A. I., &Hammayun, A. A. (2015). ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF STUDENTS’DROPOUTS. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 3(6), 1511-1518.
Liem, J. H., Lustig, K., & Dillon, C. (2010). Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among emerging adults: A comparison of high school dropouts and graduates. Journal of adult development, 17(1), 33-43.
Mehta, R., & Kaur, S. (2019). Academic challenges and school dropout among adolescents. Journal of Educational Research, 63(4), 78–92.
Berke, D. S., Kline, N. K., Wachen, J. S., McLean, C. P., Yarvis, J. S., Mintz, J., ... & Strong Star Consortium. (2015). Predictors of attendance and dropout in three randomized controlled trials of PTSD treatment for active duty service members. Behaviour research and therapy, 118, 7-17.
NCERT. (2022). National achievement survey: Secondary education report. New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and Training.
NSSO. (2020). Household social consumption on education in India: NSS 75th round (2017–18). Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.
Prakash, R., Beattie, T., Javalkar, P., Bhattacharjee, P., Ramanaik, S., Thalinja, R., ... & Isac, S. (2017). Correlates of school dropout and absenteeism among adolescent girls from marginalized community in north Karnataka, south India. Journal of adolescence, 61, 64-76.
Sinha, P., & Singh, S. K. (2016). A Study On Dropouts Among Socially Disadvantaged School Students Of Bihar. Int. J. Nov. Res. Humanity Soc. Sci, 3.
Sweeten, G., Bushway, S. D., & Paternoster, R. (2009). Does dropping out of school mean dropping into delinquency?. Criminology, 47(1), 47-91.Thorat, S., & Newman, K. S. (2010). Blocked by caste: Economic discrimination in modern India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Tilak, J. B. G. (2020). Education and development in India: Critical issues in public policy and planning. Singapore: Springer.
UNESCO. (2019). Reducing global school dropout: Policy guidance for education systems. Paris: UNESCO.
UNICEF. (2021). Re-imagining education for every child in India: Annual report 2021. New Delhi: UNICEF India.
Warren, J. R., & Lee, J. C. (2003). The impact of adolescent employment on high school dropout: Differences by individual and labor-market characteristics. Social Science Research, 32(1), 98-128.
Winding, T. N., & Andersen, J. H. (2015). Socioeconomic differences in school dropout among young adults: the role of social relations. BMC public health, 15(1), 1054.

Cite this Article as: Samara C & Rishi M (2025), “Demystifying the Reasons of Dropouts in Government High Schools in National Capital Region”, International Journal of Education & Applied Sciences Research, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2025, pp 83-98 DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17959567

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References

Azim Premji Foundation. (2021). Loss of learning during the pandemic: Findings from field studies. Bengaluru: Azim Premji University.
Bajpai, N., & Jha, R. (2019). Policy perspectives on secondary education in India: Challenges and opportunities. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Blue, D., & Cook, J. E. (2004). High school dropouts: Can we reverse the stagnation in school graduation. Study of High School Restructuring, 1(2), 1-11.
Bose, A. (2017). Infrastructure and quality in government schools: An assessment. Economic and Political Weekly, 52(8), 43–51.
Chatterji, P., & DeSimone, J. (2005). Adolescent drinking and high school dropout.
Choudhury, P. (2019). Social exclusion and school dropout: A study of marginalized communities. Indian Journal of Social Development, 19(2), 89–104.
Goel, S., & Husain, Z. (2018). Gender, caste, and education in India: A cohort-wise study of drop-out from schools. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 58, 54-68.
Government of India, Ministry of Education. (2023). Educational statistics at a glance 2023. New Delhi: Government of India Press.
Hawkins, R. L., Jaccard, J., & Needle, E. (2013). Nonacademic factors associated with dropping out of high school: Adolescent problem behaviors. Journal of the society for social work and research, 4(2), 58-75.
Jain, M., & Agarwal, R. (2020). Parental education and school dropout among adolescents in India. Journal of Education and Human Development, 9(1), 12–24.
Jha, J., & Kelleher, F. (2006). Boys’ underachievement in education: An exploration in selected Commonwealth countries. London: Commonwealth Secretariat.
Kishore, A. N., & Shaji, K. S. (2012). School dropouts: examining the space of reasons. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(4), 318-323.
Kumar, A. (2020). Psychological factors in school dropout: A study of adolescents in India. Indian Journal of Psychology and Education, 10(1), 55–68.
Kumar, P., & Gupta, N. (2018). Gender dimensions of school dropout: Evidence from rural India. International Journal of Social Sciences, 7(3), 144–156.
Latif, A., Choudhary, A. I., &Hammayun, A. A. (2015). ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF STUDENTS’DROPOUTS. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 3(6), 1511-1518.
Liem, J. H., Lustig, K., & Dillon, C. (2010). Depressive symptoms and life satisfaction among emerging adults: A comparison of high school dropouts and graduates. Journal of adult development, 17(1), 33-43.
Mehta, R., & Kaur, S. (2019). Academic challenges and school dropout among adolescents. Journal of Educational Research, 63(4), 78–92.
Berke, D. S., Kline, N. K., Wachen, J. S., McLean, C. P., Yarvis, J. S., Mintz, J., ... & Strong Star Consortium. (2015). Predictors of attendance and dropout in three randomized controlled trials of PTSD treatment for active duty service members. Behaviour research and therapy, 118, 7-17.
NCERT. (2022). National achievement survey: Secondary education report. New Delhi: National Council of Educational Research and Training.
NSSO. (2020). Household social consumption on education in India: NSS 75th round (2017–18). Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India.
Prakash, R., Beattie, T., Javalkar, P., Bhattacharjee, P., Ramanaik, S., Thalinja, R., ... & Isac, S. (2017). Correlates of school dropout and absenteeism among adolescent girls from marginalized community in north Karnataka, south India. Journal of adolescence, 61, 64-76.
Sinha, P., & Singh, S. K. (2016). A Study On Dropouts Among Socially Disadvantaged School Students Of Bihar. Int. J. Nov. Res. Humanity Soc. Sci, 3.
Sweeten, G., Bushway, S. D., & Paternoster, R. (2009). Does dropping out of school mean dropping into delinquency?. Criminology, 47(1), 47-91.Thorat, S., & Newman, K. S. (2010). Blocked by caste: Economic discrimination in modern India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.
Tilak, J. B. G. (2020). Education and development in India: Critical issues in public policy and planning. Singapore: Springer.
UNESCO. (2019). Reducing global school dropout: Policy guidance for education systems. Paris: UNESCO.
UNICEF. (2021). Re-imagining education for every child in India: Annual report 2021. New Delhi: UNICEF India.
Warren, J. R., & Lee, J. C. (2003). The impact of adolescent employment on high school dropout: Differences by individual and labor-market characteristics. Social Science Research, 32(1), 98-128.
Winding, T. N., & Andersen, J. H. (2015). Socioeconomic differences in school dropout among young adults: the role of social relations. BMC public health, 15(1), 1054.

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