Jaisalmer: School dropout rates in the desert districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer have increased sharply over the past five years, with data presented in Parliament indicating poor infrastructure, teacher shortages and weak support systems as major factors.According to govt figures, 26.4% of students dropped out between the primary and secondary levels across the two districts in the last five years, underlining the severity of the education crisis in the state’s desert and border areas.The figures were shared by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in response to a starred question in the Lok Sabha and cited by Barmer MP Ummedaram Beniwal to criticise the Centre’s education policies. Beniwal said the data exposes the gap between official claims and realities on the ground.As per the data, Jaisalmer recorded the highest dropout rate at 30.9% over primary (6.1%), upper primary (9.4%) and secondary education (15.3%) levels. Barmer’s overall dropout rate, meanwhile, stood at 21.3%, which includes 2.7% dropouts at the primary level, 6.4% at the upper primary level and 12.1% at the secondary level.Beniwal noted that dropout rates increase sharply in higher levels and argued that poverty alone cannot explain the trend. He pointed to the lack of scholarships, transport, nutrition, teachers and basic facilities, alleging that many schools lack proper buildings, toilets and drinking water facilities.
