Ranchi: Jharkhand has made significant strides in school enrollment and dropout reduction, but continues to lag in learning outcomes and participation beyond Class 10, according to a recent NITI Aayog school education report. The state has successfully brought children into classrooms and retained them, yet weak foundational learning, teacher shortages, and poor secondary transition rates remain major concerns.
Dropout Rates Decline Sharply
Official data reveals that Jharkhand achieved zero primary dropout in the 2024-25 academic year, down from 6.41% in 2014-15. During the same period, upper primary dropout fell from 7.42% to 1.7%, while secondary dropout dropped from 23.2% to 3.5%. Despite these improvements, challenges persist in foundational learning, teacher availability, and transition to higher education.
Reforms and Initiatives
To address these gaps, the state education department and Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) have implemented several reforms over recent years. These include CM Schools of Excellence (SoE), digital classrooms, vocational training, sports integration, and mother tongue-based education programs. A flagship intervention is the launch of SoEs in 2023, envisioned as model government schools with modern infrastructure, smart classrooms, English-medium learning support, laboratories, sports facilities, and career-oriented teaching.
Expansion of Schools of Excellence
Jharkhand currently operates 80 SoEs across districts and blocks, with plans for major expansion. Rajesh Prasad, director of secondary education, stated that proposals for 100 new SoEs have been submitted and are under review. These schools aim to improve academic performance and reduce student migration to private institutions. Many campuses now feature science labs, digital learning systems, libraries, and sports infrastructure comparable to private schools.
At SoE Bariatu in Ranchi, students train on a dedicated hockey ground and participate in digital learning sessions. Ranchi district education officer Vinay Kumar noted that sports and co-curricular activities are increasingly integrated into government schools. “Ranchi has around 150 secondary schools and nearly 2,000 primary schools. Physical education is now a required subject, with trained graduate teachers available. Sports kits have been distributed, and schools are encouraged to build a sports culture alongside academics,” he said.
Innovation and Digital Learning
Another focus is innovation-driven learning through Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), introduced in selected government schools to promote scientific thinking and problem-solving. Ranchi has about 10 schools with ATL, providing robotics kits, 3D printers, electronics tools, and hands-on science experiments. Deepanshu Kumar, a Class 9 student at a government school in Ranchi, said the lab has transformed science learning. “Earlier, science was limited to books and diagrams. Now we build models and learn through experiments. Students are more interested in technology and engineering,” she said.
The state has also expanded Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives with smart classrooms, digital content, and computer-based teaching modules. Digital learning is emphasized in secondary schools, especially in rural areas where technology access is limited. Simultaneously, vocational education programs in retail, healthcare, IT, electronics, and agriculture are being introduced to make learning career-oriented and reduce dropout rates among economically weaker students.
Foundational Learning and Girl Education
To improve foundational learning, programs like ‘Main Bhi NIPUN, Mera Vidyalay Bhi NIPUN’ focus on literacy and numeracy in early classes. In tribal areas, the PALASH program uses mother tongue-based multilingual education to reduce language barriers. Girl education remains a priority through Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and Jharkhand Balika Aawasiya Vidyalayas, providing residential schooling and financial support under Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana to reduce dropout risks from early marriage and migration.
In April 2024, the department launched Maths and Science Clubs in 173 secondary schools to enhance conceptual learning and STEM participation. Teachers report that these clubs help students engage with practical activities, reducing fear of mathematics and science. “We see students participating more actively in practical sessions. Learning has become activity-based,” said Prasad.
Persistent Challenges
Despite progress, officials acknowledge that teacher vacancies and uneven student-teacher ratios remain structural challenges. The state recently recruited over 11,000 teachers for primary and middle schools, with recruitment for secondary and special teachers underway. With expansion of SoEs, digital learning, innovation labs, and vocational education, Jharkhand is gradually transforming government schools into centers of quality learning and skill development for students across urban and rural districts.
