Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 28
The ASER 2024 survey provided alarming data regarding the school enrollment of boys aged 15-16 in rural Nagaland, showing that a significant percentage of boys in this age group are not enrolled in school. This rate is much higher than the national average, indicating a troubling trend in educational access for older boys in the region.
It should be noted that the Right to Education Act (RTE) of India, 2009 guarantees free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14.
According to the survey, 17.9% of boys aged 15-16 in rural Nagaland were found to be not enrolled in any school in 2024. This figure is substantially higher than the national average of 7.7% for the same age group, highlighting a major disparity in educational participation for boys in this region. It is also one of the highest rates of out-of-school boys compared to other states in India.
Trends over time
2014-2024 Data: The out-of-school figures for boys aged 15-16 have remained high over the years in Nagaland, showing a persistent problem in retaining boys in the education system beyond the primary school years.
This trend has not significantly changed between 2014 and 2024, suggesting that the issue of high dropout rates among boys persists and may require targeted interventions.
Gender disparity
While 17.9% of boys aged 15-16 were out of school, the situation for girls in the same age group was notably better, with a much lower out-of-school rate of 8%.
This creates a gender gap where boys are significantly more likely to drop out of school or never enroll at all after the age of 14. The gender disparity in school enrollment in Nagaland is particularly concerning given that girls tend to show higher enrollment rates and fewer dropout instances in this age group.
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