Dropout rate matter of concern: Smriti Irani

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) The overall primary school dropout rates have gone down in India except in the case of tribal children, Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani said here Wednesday.

The primary school dropout rate has gone down from 9.11 percent in 2009-10 to 4.67 percent in 2013-14, Smriti Irani said in the Lok Sabha.

The minister, however, added that the dropout rates of tribal children is a matter of deep concern, though the overall rates have gone down.

She said that the government has taken a number of measures for improving the conditions in primary schools - like providing safe drinking water and toilets.

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"On July 11, I had written letters to the chief minister of each state bringing to light specific issues related to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)," she said during the question hour.

SSA is the government's flagship primary school education programme.

Replying to a separate question, she said the government was trying to incorporate a chapter on gender sensitisation in the school curriculum.

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