(a) whether tribal students are lagging behind in education;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government proposes to establish more schools in tribal and remote areas for the benefit of students of these areas; and
(d) if so, the action plan chalked out in this regard?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): The percentage of ST enrolment, as per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2013-14, is 10.63% of the total enrolment in elementary education, which is more than their share of population at 8.6% as per census 2011. However, the dropout rate of tribal children, as per UDISE 2013-14 is 8.3% compared to a national average of 4.17%, though it has improved from 9.0% in 2012-13. In learning outcomes also, as per the National Achievement Surveys conducted in a 3 year cycle by the NCERT, the achievement level of tribal children is slightly lower than the national mean.
(b) to (d): The government has identified 109 special focus districts (SFDs) with a concentration of tribal population for focused attention in educational development. In 2014-15, Rs. 6468.72 crore i.e. 12% of the total allocation under SSA has been allocated to these districts. In 2014-15, 49 primary schools and 87 upper primary schools have been sanctioned for these districts. 508 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and 122 residential schools have been sanctioned in these districts. Bridging strategies for teaching learning of tribal children, to help them transit from their home language to the State medium of instruction, have been adopted in 7 States with large tribal population. The SSA also funds additional teachers for tribal areas in order to improve pupil teacher ratios.
At the secondary level under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), 2263 schools have been opened / upgraded and 4388 schools have been strengthened, in these districts.