Students Have Multiple Options, No Dropout in Higher Education: Minister

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Education Sukanta Majumdar informed on Wednesday that there is no such phenomenon as "dropping out" of higher education as students have choices and even change courses or programmes frequently.

Replying to a user query by written question in the Rajya Sabha on the dropout and suicide rates from IITs, NITs, IIMs, and central universities, Majumdar stressed the point that students in the higher education system should have flexibility in changing and selecting courses.

"As in the higher education sector, students have multiple options and they choose and migrate from one course or programme to another, as such there is no concept of dropping out of Higher education. However, to increase access to higher education, the government has taken various steps like financial assistance and scholarships like the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Scheme, fee waiver or reduction of disadvantaged groups, promoting study loans like PM-Vidyalakshmi scheme, establishment of more institutes, a student support system like establishment of counselling cells, strengthening of grievance redressal mechanism, providing remedial coaching, initiatives under online and digital learning (ODL) like SWAYAM, National Digital Library (NDL) and e-PG Pathshala," he added.

Majumdar also highlighted the reforms introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including multiple entry and exit points, the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), and the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS).

"To address the issue of suicide, the government is taking multi-pronged measures and provides psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid the incidence of suicide.

"An initiative of the Ministry of Education, Manodarpan, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being," he said.

These efforts aim to create a more inclusive and supportive academic environment, ensuring students have the necessary resources to succeed in higher education.