U.P. CM Yogi Adityanath pushes for zero dropout, appeals to society for ensuring no child is left out of school
U.P. C.M. says student dropout rate in U.P. has reduced from 19% before 2017 to just three percent; children receive free uniforms, sweaters, bags, books, socks and shoes
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Context
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched the 'School Chalo Abhiyan' for the 2026-27 academic session, aiming to achieve 100% school enrollment and reduce the student dropout rate to zero. This initiative is part of a broader state effort to improve educational infrastructure and access, which includes providing free essentials to students and community mobilization. The campaign builds on the constitutional mandate for education and leverages national and state-level schemes to tackle issues of access and retention.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity & Governance
The 'School Chalo Abhiyan' is a practical implementation of the constitutional vision for education in India. The 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, inserted [Article 21-A], making education for children aged 6-14 a Fundamental Right. To enforce this, Parliament enacted the [Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009], which obligates the government to ensure admission, attendance, and completion of elementary education. Uttar Pradesh's campaign directly addresses the RTE's goals of universal enrollment and retention. Furthermore, the initiative aligns with the Directive Principles of State Policy, specifically [Article 45] (early childhood care and education) and the Fundamental Duty under [Article 51-A(k)], which requires parents to provide educational opportunities. For UPSC, this highlights the cooperative federalism in implementing national educational goals, where a state government designs specific campaigns to fulfill centrally mandated objectives, with education being a subject on the Concurrent List.
Social Issues
The focus on reducing the school dropout rate from a claimed 19% to 3% addresses deep-seated social challenges. High dropout rates are often linked to poverty, lack of access, social discrimination, and inadequate infrastructure like toilets, particularly affecting female students. The article highlights how state-led interventions aim to create a more inclusive educational ecosystem. The expansion of [Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV)] up to class 12 specifically targets girls from disadvantaged groups (SC, ST, OBC, minorities) in educationally backward blocks. Similarly, the establishment of [Atal Residential Schools] for children of workers and destitute families aims to remove economic barriers to quality education. These initiatives represent a targeted approach to achieving social equity and inclusive development (SDG 4 - Quality Education), moving beyond mere enrollment to ensure retention and holistic development for marginalized communities. The provision of ₹1200 for uniforms and essentials via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) also acts as a crucial incentive for economically weaker families.
Economic
Investing in universal school education is a long-term economic strategy focused on human capital formation. An educated populace leads to a more skilled workforce, higher productivity, and reduced poverty. The U.P. CM's statement linking illiteracy to poverty and education to prosperity underscores this economic rationale. The state's allocation of over ₹80,000 crores towards school education represents a significant public investment aimed at generating future economic returns. This initiative can be viewed through the lens of the [Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan], an integrated central scheme for school education from pre-school to class 12 that supports states in such efforts. By ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy, and reducing dropouts, the state is building the groundwork for higher value addition in its economy and preparing its youth for more complex jobs, which is essential for leveraging India's demographic dividend.