Decade of decline: J&K records 20 per cent fall in students transition from Secondary to Hr Sec

Srinagar, Jun 15: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded its sharpest decline in student progression from secondary to higher secondary in a decade, with the transition rate falling more than 20% between 2014 and 2024.
The official figures reveal that J&K has recorded the second highest decline in the transition rate across the country during this period.
“The steepest declines in transition from secondary to higher secondary between the years 2014 and 2024 were recorded in Arunachal Pradesh with 81.8 percent to 60.7 percent and Jammu & Kashmir with 93.38 percent to 72.9 percent.”
The documents said that despite notable improvements, persistent challenges remain in ensuring retention through the higher secondary stage.
“As participation beyond Grade 10 lies outside the mandate of the RTE Act, financial constraints, early entry into the workforce, and social pressures continue to impede progression, underscoring the need for sustained policy and institutional support,” it reads.
As already reported last year, In Jammu and Kashmir, over 17 percent of students at primary level and 12 percent learners at senior secondary level quit studies midway.
It was reported that “The retention rate at Primary level in Jammu and Kashmir was 82.70 and 88.42 at senior secondary level.”
However, in the previous academic session, nearly 46,000 Out of School Children (OoSC) were mainstreamed.
Furthermore, the figures further reveal that during the year 2024-25, electricity coverage was completed in 87.2 percent of schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
The overall trend highlights sustained policy push, investment in school infrastructure, and greater convergence with rural electrification schemes.
“Yet, bridging the last-mile gaps in challenging geographies remains critical to achieving true universality,” it reads. (KNO)