(a) whether the Government proposes to introduce tribal language as a medium in school education in tribal areas;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and
(c) the dropout rate of tribal students and gender gap in tribal schools, State-wise and the remedial steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the issue?
MINISTER OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JUAL ORAM)
(a) & (b): The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) supports the States for teaching the ST children in their mother tongue in the beginning of the Primary Education. The SSA aims to achieve Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in partnership with States and has provision to ensure quality education with the provision of free textbooks to all ST children with focus of text books in mother tongue of ST children in the beginning of primary education, where they do not understand regional language.
(c): The State/UT Administration- wise dropout rate of tribal students and gender gap in tribal school in the country is given at annexure I & II.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has taken following steps, in addition to range of steps taken by Ministry of Human Resource Development to check dropout of ST students:
# Strengthening of Education among ST Girls in Low Literacy Districts.
# 30% provision for ST Girls under the scheme of Upgradation of Merit of ST students.
# Provision of Residential Schools/Ashram Schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).
# 100% funding for construction of Girls Hostel.
# Flexible School vacation, in alignment with the local tribal festivals.
# Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students studying in class IX and X.
# Post Matric Scholarship scheme for ST students.