More boys than girls are dropping out of the schools in India. As against 39% boys who dropped out before completing elementary education in 2013-14, only 33% girls did so, says the latest statistics of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development (MHRD).

In 2012-13, nearly 41% female students had dropped out of the schools without completing elementary education, as against 40.3% male students. The gender gap in dropout within a year appears to be more profound in the upper primary classes (5-8). The figures are based on provisional data of Unified District Information System for Education.

Poverty, poor academic performance, substandard teaching, migration and need for employment to support the family are major factors behind the higher dropout rate of the boys, say experts.

Until now, various reports had stated that more girls in India dropped out from schools leading to launch of target schemes like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya. However, the fresh statistics suggest that the government needs to focus on arresting the dropout of boys as well.

Overall, nearly 20% children in India didn't complete primary education in 2013-14. Nearly 36% children didn't complete elementary education.

This is despite the fact the Right to Education (RTE) Act is in place since 2010, which mandates free and compulsory education to every child in the country up to class 8. However, it appears that the Act has led to higher enrolment but unable to ensure quality education and retention.

Though the urban-rural figures and break-up of household income of the dropouts are not yet available, officials say the dropout among poor from remote and rural areas is much higher than the urban areas.

Girl students are often described by educators as “more willing to learn” than their male counterparts. The overall academic performance of the girls is also better than boys as obvious from the class 10th results of various school boards, say social scientists.

The new trend also points out that the girls are taking advantage of the opportunities for social and economic mobility offered to them as the country has developed. But the situation with boys is different as they are considered as the breadwinner and forced to earn at the time of crisis for instance drought, say social scientists.

Educationist Milind Wagh calls it as as “forced out” rather than drop out. “Drop out implies as if kids are leaving schools willingly. In fact, system is pushing them out of schools. In India, boys are expected to support the family. They often migrate for jobs and hence unable to complete schooling.”