Attendance rates of girls at primary level and upper primary level higher than boys

Updated on: Thursday, December 20, 2012

More girls attend schools regularly than boys at primary and upper primary levels, a survey by independent agencies has shown, the Lok Sabha was informed.

 Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor said, "...attendance rates of girls at primary level were 70.6 per cent against the overall average of 68.5 per cent and 78.7 per cent at upper primary levels against the overall average of 75 per cent."
  
He said this came to light in a study done by independent agencies on assessing attendance levels in elementary schools in 2009.
  
Tharoor said since the Right to Education Act became operational 96 per cent of population has access to school within one kilometer of their residence.
  
He said the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Scheme of residential upper primary schools for girls has been launched where female literacy rates below the national average.
  
He said the government has launched an innovative scheme under which a fixed deposit of Rs 3,000 is made in the name of girls passing out of Class VIII.
  
The money and the interest accumulated on it is given to the girl after she clears her Class X exam, he said. Tharoor said the government was also encouraging states to recruit more teachers ever since the RTE Act became operational.
  
"The government has been making consistent progress in meeting the goal of Universal Elementary Education through implementation of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)," he said.
  
Under SSA, several intervention to promote education of girls are undertaken which include opening of schools in the neighbourhood to make access easier for girls, appointment of additional teachers.
  
The KGBV scheme is only for girls from Class V to Class VIII. For girls beyond Class VIII, there is a scheme under which government provides Rs 3,000 in a fixed deposit and the money is given to her with interest when she passes Class X.

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12