KARACHI, March 24: A significant increase has been registered in the dropout rate of children from schools at different levels from class one to six in rural as well as urban areas of the province over the last few years, data compiled by the Sindh Education Management Information System have revealed.

The statistics show that average dropout rate of boys in urban areas, which was 7 per cent in 1997-98, rose to 11 per cent in 1998-99 and to 18 per cent during 1999 and 2001. The dropout rate of boys in the rural areas, 21 per cent in 1997-98, went up to 30 per cent in 1998-99 and registered only one per cent decline from 1999 to 2001 as it was 29 per cent.

The girls’ dropout rate in urban areas was only six per cent in 1997-98, which rose to 9 per cent in 1998-99 and 17 per cent from 1999 to 2001.

In rural areas, it remained much higher as the average rate, 21 per cent in 1997-98, increased to 33 per cent in 1998-99 and to 33 per cent from 1999 to 2001.—PPI