July 22, 2025 – The Students' Federation of India (SFI) today launched a scathing attack on the Indian government's education policies, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, as the latest Economic Survey 2024-25 data reveals a alarming rise in school dropout rates. The SFI charges that the NEP, far from being a progressive reform, is actively contributing to the marginalization of students and the rampant commercialization of education, denying millions their fundamental right to learn.
According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, school dropout rates have seen a concerning uptick. Primary level dropouts now stand at 1.9%, rising to 5.2% at the upper primary level, and a significant 14.1% at the secondary level. While some official reports might claim a "decline," the SFI emphasizes that these figures still represent millions of children pushed out of the education system, and in many crucial segments, show a regression compared to previous periods.
"These aren't just statistics; they are the shattered dreams and lost futures of countless working-class and marginalized students," declared a fiery SFI spokesperson from Durgapur. "The NEP 2020, with its emphasis on arbitrary assessments at Classes III, V, and VIII, is creating an environment of fear and competition, actively pushing young minds out of the school system even before they can build a strong foundation."
The SFI highlighted concerns previously raised by various state education ministers, including Tamil Nadu's Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who have warned that the NEP's rigid assessment framework could indeed exacerbate dropout rates. Despite the NEP's stated goal of universal enrollment by 2030, the SFI argues that the policy's practical implementation is having the opposite, devastating effect.
The NEP's Broken Promises and Harsh Realities:
The SFI's critical analysis of the NEP 2020 points to several factors directly contributing to the escalating dropout crisis:
Assessment-Induced Stress: The introduction of mandatory, high-stakes assessments at early stages, while touted as a means to identify learning gaps, is perceived by the SFI as a system designed to label and filter, rather than support. This induces immense psychological stress, particularly among vulnerable students and those from less privileged backgrounds, who often lack the necessary support systems.
Chronic Underfunding of Public Education: Despite the NEP's stated goal of increasing public education spending to a target of 6% of GDP, the current allocation remains woefully short. The Union Budget 2025's "puny allocation" to the education sector, which the SFI claims is significantly less than required to meet the 6% GDP target, clearly demonstrates the government's negligence towards public education. This chronic underfunding starves government schools of vital resources, leading to dilapidated infrastructure, severe teacher shortages (with over 1 million vacancies reported nationwide), and a drastic compromise in teaching quality.
Exacerbating the Digital Divide: While the NEP promotes digital education and hybrid learning models, the SFI argues that this emphasis overlooks the deep digital divide prevalent in India. Economically challenged students, especially in rural areas, lack access to necessary technology, stable internet connectivity, and electricity, making "digital learning" an exclusionary concept for them.
Rampant Commercialization and Privatization: The SFI firmly believes that the NEP serves as a thinly veiled blueprint for the privatization and commercialization of education. The increasing influx of private capital into public-funded universities through mechanisms like HEFA loans, coupled with the government's aggressive promotion of private institutions, is rapidly transforming quality education into a commodity accessible only to the wealthy elite.
"The government's obsession with 'ease of doing business' seems to have translated into 'ease of dropping out' for millions of students," the SFI spokesperson asserted. "This is not merely an educational crisis; it is a full-blown social and economic catastrophe manufactured by policies that prioritize corporate profit over the fundamental right to education for every citizen."
A Resolute Call to Action:
The SFI reiterated its unwavering commitment to fighting for a truly public, equitable, and accessible education system for all. The student front demands immediate and decisive action from the government, including:
Immediate Reversal of Detrimental NEP Provisions: This includes the abolition of high-stakes early-stage assessments and a fundamental re-evaluation of the curriculum to focus on holistic development, critical thinking, and creativity, rather than rote learning.
Substantial Increase in Public Education Funding: A commitment to achieving the 6% GDP target for education spending, with a clear focus on strengthening government schools. This must translate into adequate infrastructure, sufficient resources, and a full complement of well-trained, permanent teachers across all levels of education.
Combating Commercialization: A definitive halt to the privatization drive in education and strict regulation of private institutions to ensure education remains a public good, free from profit-making motives.
Comprehensive Support for Vulnerable Students: Implementation of robust scholarship programs, provision of free study materials, and establishment of comprehensive social, academic, and psychological support systems to prevent dropouts, particularly among girls, SC/ST, and rural students.
"We will not stand idly by as the future of our nation's youth is sacrificed at the altar of neoliberal economics. The SFI will continue its protests and campaigns, uniting students, teachers, parents, and all concerned citizens to demand a genuinely pro-student education policy that uplifts every single individual, not just a privileged few," the SFI spokesperson concluded, vowing to intensify the struggle across the country.
