UP dropout rate reduced to 3%, will bring it to zero: CM Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the state’s school dropout rate has fallen to around 3%, down from nearly 17% to 18% before 2017, and asserted that his government aims to bring the figure down to zero.

The chief minister made the remarks while addressing a program for distributing checks to 24,717 part-time instructors after the state government increased their monthly honorarium from ₹7,000 to ₹17,000.

Highlighting changes in the education sector since his government came to power, Adityanath said the condition of basic education in Uttar Pradesh was extremely weak earlier and claimed the system was close to collapse.

"The dropout rate in the state used to be around 17 to 18%. Out of every 100 children, nearly 17 or 18 would leave school prematurely. Today, we have reduced it to around 3%, and we will bring it down to zero," he said.

Focus on School Enrollment and Retention

The Uttar Pradesh government has been emphasizing enrollment and retention drives in recent years as part of efforts to improve learning outcomes and expand access to schooling.

Earlier in April, Adityanath had appealed to all sections of society to ensure that no child remains outside the education system and stressed the need to eliminate school dropouts entirely.

Speaking at the event, the chief minister said previous governments lacked both a proper policy framework and commitment toward strengthening primary education.

"There was neither a clear policy nor an honest intent earlier. How could basic education have improved in such a situation?" he said.

He also claimed that in 2017, proposals were pending to remove instructors from schools where student enrollment had fallen below 100, but his administration decided against taking such steps.

Honorarium Hike for Part-time Instructors

The event was organized to distribute financial benefits to part-time instructors following the government’s decision to substantially increase their monthly honorarium.

Adityanath said his government did not hesitate to extend support to instructors because they had pursued their demands peacefully without resorting to pressure tactics or violence.

The chief minister announced that apart from the salary increase, the government would also provide health insurance coverage worth ₹5 lakh to instructors and their family members.

"Cashless treatment facilities will be available to instructors and their family members," he said.

According to the chief minister, a dedicated portal for the health scheme has already been developed, and the Basic Education Council has been instructed to speed up implementation so that health cards can be distributed during a major function next week.

He added that instructors and Shiksha Mitras should receive respectable honorariums and dignity in their professional roles.

During his address, Adityanath also defended schools encouraging students to participate in community-based activities and criticized people who oppose such efforts online.

"Whenever children participate in community service, some people project it negatively. I would say teachers should not face action for such initiatives; instead, they should be honored for preparing children for the future," he said.

Focus on Girls’ Education

The chief minister also referred to initiatives aimed at improving access to education for girls from disadvantaged communities.

In April, Adityanath had said that Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas had been established in every block across the state, with approval now extended up to Class 12 to support the education of girls from underprivileged backgrounds.

The Uttar Pradesh government has repeatedly highlighted improvements in school infrastructure, enrollment rates, and welfare schemes as part of its broader education reforms over the past several years.