In the remote village of Ayodhya Hill in Purulia district, the Teliya Bhasa Junior High School stands as a symbol of a worrying trend — the steady fall in school enrolment among students from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in West Bengal. The school, run by just one teacher, reflects a larger problem affecting several government schools across the state. Over the years, more and more children, especially from marginalised groups, are dropping out or simply not enrolling in schools. The decline, though gradual, has far-reaching consequences for both individuals and communities.
I chose to write about this issue because education is the most powerful tool for empowerment, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities like the SC population. When children from these backgrounds stop going to school, it not only limits their future opportunities but also affects the social and economic progress of entire families. Understanding the reasons behind this fall in enrolment is important because it helps us see how policy gaps, poverty, and neglect combine to weaken the foundation of equality that education promises. This is not just about numbers—it’s about the lives and futures of thousands of children in rural Bengal.
A Disturbing Decline in Enrolment
The drop in school enrolment in West Bengal, especially among SC students, has been gradual but consistent. Data from the last few years shows that government schools in rural areas are witnessing smaller classrooms, fewer teachers, and a worrying rate of student withdrawals. Many schools in districts like Purulia, Bankura, and Birbhum are functioning with skeletal staff, making it difficult to maintain quality teaching.
In Teliya Bhasa Junior High School, for example, there is only one teacher managing multiple classes. Such a shortage directly affects learning outcomes and often leads to disinterest among students. Parents, especially those from economically weak SC households, see little value in sending their children to poorly functioning schools when they could help earn income for the family instead.
Factors Behind the Falling Enrolment
The reasons for the decline in enrolment among SC students are many, and they often overlap.
1. Shortage of Teachers and Poor Infrastructure:
Many schools in tribal and SC-dominated regions of West Bengal face severe teacher shortages. With one or two teachers managing an entire school, students struggle to receive attention or quality instruction. Poor infrastructure—broken classrooms, lack of toilets, and unsafe buildings—discourages attendance, particularly among girl students.
2. Economic Hardship:
Poverty remains a major barrier. Many SC families rely on daily wage work and seasonal labour. During harvest or migration seasons, children are often pulled out of school to assist their parents. Without strong economic support systems, education becomes secondary to survival.
3. Pandemic Aftereffects:
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation. With schools closed for nearly two years, many students lost touch with learning. Online education was inaccessible for most rural families due to the absence of smartphones and internet connectivity. When schools reopened, a large section of children, especially from SC backgrounds, did not return.
4. Lack of Awareness and Parental Involvement:
In some areas, there is limited understanding among parents about the long-term benefits of education. When families have experienced generations of poverty and marginalisation, education often does not seem like a guaranteed path to a better life.
5. Weak Implementation of Welfare Schemes:
Although government schemes like scholarships, free uniforms, and midday meals exist, poor implementation and delays in disbursement often discourage participation. For many families, even small expenses like books or travel can become a burden, leading to dropouts.
The Importance of Education for SC Communities
Education has both instrumental and intrinsic value. It directly affects income levels, health outcomes, and social mobility. For SC communities, education is a means to break the cycle of discrimination and poverty that has persisted for generations.
Each additional year of schooling increases employment opportunities and improves the chances of accessing secure livelihoods. It also empowers individuals to participate more meaningfully in civic life and decision-making. When school enrolment drops, it weakens the social fabric of inclusion and equality that India’s education system strives to build.
What Needs to Change
To reverse this decline, both policy intervention and community involvement are necessary. Some key steps that can help include:
- Filling teacher vacancies: The government must urgently recruit and deploy qualified teachers to rural and semi-urban schools.
- Improving school infrastructure: Classrooms, toilets, and hostels must be maintained properly to make schools more welcoming, especially for girls.
- Financial support for families: Strengthening existing scholarship and incentive schemes can help reduce the economic burden on SC families.
- Community awareness programmes: Encouraging local leaders, NGOs, and teachers to engage with parents can help build trust and awareness about the value of education.
- Monitoring attendance and dropout rates: Regular tracking can help identify at-risk students early and prevent dropouts through counselling and support.
