New Delhi, The discriminatory treatment like the one meted out to a Muslim girl Muskan at the hands of saffron-scarf clad mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram” at a college in Karnataka or a Muslim boy student, slapped by his classmates at the behest of his Hindu teacher in a UP school, is major contributor factor behind high ratio of Muslim students’ dropout at elementary level in India.

According to Kashmir Media Serviec, only 76.37% of Muslim students continue to the next level of education after the elementary level.

The percentage is well short of the national average in India which stands at 81.2%, a new analysis of the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE Plus) has said.

Muslim students are more likely to drop out of school at the elementary level (Classes 1 to 8) than all communities taken together, the analysis.

The UDISE Plus data – published by the Indian Ministry of Education – contains a brief analysis of school education at the all-India level and also state-specific statements for all states and Union Territories.

An analysis of the UDISE Plus (also, UDISE+) 2021-22 data, titled State of Muslim Education in India, by educationist Arun C. Mehta found that only 76.37% of Muslim students continue to the next level of education after the elementary level as compared to the national average of 81.2%.

The analysis found that the retention rate, already low for Muslims, is lower still for Muslim girls as only 72.78% stay in school compared to 80.23% of Muslim boys.

“Overall, girls demonstrated higher retention rates at primary and elementary levels, showcasing their educational commitment. However, there is a concerning trend among Muslim students, where female retention rates were notably lower.

Addressing this gender disparity is crucial for fostering equal education opportunities,” Mehta’s report said.