Haryana's Nuh District Records Highest Elementary School Dropout Rate in State
According to district-wise data presented in the Haryana state assembly, the state continues to grapple with significant regional disparities in school retention, with Nuh district emerging as the most affected area. The data, shared by School Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda during Thursday's budget session, covers academic years from 2023–24 to 2025–26 and reveals concerning trends in several districts.
Alarming Dropout Figures Highlight Regional Divide
The figures, sourced from the U-DISE portal, show that Nuh reported a dropout rate of 12.84% in 2025-26 at the elementary level (Class VI–VIII). This is substantially higher than the state average of 3.05%. Other districts with relatively high dropout rates included Panchkula at 6.03%, Palwal at 5.8%, Ambala at 4.39%, and Sirsa at 3.39%. Bhiwani, Panipat, Yamunanagar, Fatehabad, and Faridabad districts also featured among the top ten with elevated dropout levels.
In stark contrast, several districts managed to maintain extremely low dropout levels. Mahendragarh and Rewari reported zero dropout rates at the elementary level in 2025-26, while Jhajjar and Rohtak districts recorded minimal figures. This sharp divide underscores the uneven educational landscape across Haryana.
Nuh's Dropout Rate Shows Steady Increase Over Years
The situation in Nuh, historically known as Mewat, remains a major concern as the dropout rate there has been steadily rising. It increased from 8.61% in 2023–24 to 12.84% in 2025–26. At the senior secondary entry stage (Class XI), dropout rates also remain higher than the state average in several districts, indicating persistent challenges beyond elementary education.
Government data suggests that multiple factors contribute to students leaving school early, particularly among girls. These include a lack of nearby secondary schools, financial constraints, and limited transport facilities. In remote areas of Nuh, students in Class IX to XII who live more than 5 kilometers from their schools are provided annual transport assistance of Rs 6,000, but this appears insufficient to curb the trend.
Government Initiatives to Address the Crisis
In response to a starred question from Congress MLA Aftab Ahmad of Nuh, Minister Mahipal Dhanda outlined several measures the government has initiated to tackle the problem. These include door-to-door enrolment campaigns under ‘Pravesh Utsav’, tracking of students through the MIS portal, and household surveys to identify out-of-school children.
To improve girls' retention in schools, residential facilities such as Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and girls' hostels have been set up in educationally backward blocks. The assembly reply noted that many girls leave school after completing Class V due to the non-availability of schools near their habitation. To overcome this, five KGBVs and three girls' hostels were established in educational backward blocks of Nuh district, with 1,167 girls currently studying in KGBVs.
Teacher Shortages Exacerbate the Problem
The assembly reply also revealed a significant shortage of teachers in Nuh, where 4,804 posts are vacant out of 10,053 sanctioned positions across government schools. This shortage likely compounds the dropout issue by affecting the quality of education and student support. The state government has sent requisitions to recruitment agencies and initiated promotions and contractual appointments to address this gap, but the impact remains to be seen.
This data highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions in districts like Nuh to bridge the educational divide and ensure equitable access to quality schooling across Haryana.
