Educational dropout is one of the major problems in India and for the whole world itself. This article presents the problem of girl’s educational dropout of Himachal Pradesh in India. The literacy rate (LR) of the state is very excellent up to 82.80%. But the discrepancy of male and female LR goes up to 13.60% and this discrepancy creates a foremost problem with the overall LR of this state. Work has been done to find out the reasons for the most minuscule LR of female as compared to male. So that some suggested measure can be taken to improve the LR of the female in Himachal Pradesh.

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Reasons for Lower Literacy among Girls in
Himachal Pradesh
Mukesh Kumar1
, Prof (Dr.) A. J. Singh2
1
PhD Research Scholar, 2
Professor
12
Computer Science Department, HP University, Shimla.
Abstract: Educational dropout is one of the major problems in India and for the whole world itself. This article presents the
problem of girl’s educational dropout of Himachal Pradesh in India. The literacy rate (LR) of the state is very excellent up to
82.80%. But the discrepancy of male and female LR goes up to 13.60% and this discrepancy creates a foremost problem with the
overall LR of this state. Work has been done to find out the reasons for the most minuscule LR of female as compared to male. So
that some suggested measure can be taken to improve the LR of female in Himachal Pradesh.
Keywords: Education, Literacy rate, Census rate, Educational problems, Data Analysis.
I. INTRODUCTION
Education plays a very important role for the overall
development of the person and the society as a whole. It
makes a person to make a difference between right and
wrong. The development of any country depends upon the
educational system over there. Education makes a person,
how to use their knowledge for the growth of the society
and community in which they live. Every country has their
own education system and their implementation. Here work
has been done to understand the factors of educational
dropout in India. Dropout problem is very serious at every
level of education but the most serious problem arises at
primary level. There are lots of factors considered for the
analysis like Expectations of Domesticity, Safety,
Infrastructure Barriers, Quality of education, Economically
and socially disadvantaged children, Poor facilities by
government, Gender gaps, Private schools are not
affordable for all, Parents uneducated and poverty control,
The importance of a girl’s education is still not understood,
A parent dies, Physical disorders, Mental Retardation, Child
labour (Employment), Family issues accounted etc.
II. EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IN INDIA
Educational process in India is very simple to understand.
There is no formal examination up to 9th
standard by CBSE
and much state educational boards. Educational board of
any state fix the curriculum for each class standard and
every institution/ school must have follow these. There is no
flexibility in choosing syllabus according to the interest of
the student. Students are forced to read those students also
in which they are not interested. The entire subjects are
common to boys and girls up to 10th
standard. The interest
of the student is not taken into consideration while framing
curriculum for that. This stage (up to 11-15 years) is very
critical for the educational growth of the students and must
give freedom to choose the subject according to their
interest. But here in India up to this standard (10th
standards) students not getting much freedom to choose
subject according there interest. In India we have a fixed
standard and process in education. In Bloch diagram below,
Indian education system must be shown:
Block diagram: Indian Education System process
For the block diagram it is clear that we have some fixed
standard in education process like Nursery, Primary,
Secondary, Higher secondary, Graduation and Post
Graduation. After completion of secondary education,
student gets a lot alternative like Arts with different subject
option, commerce, Medical Science, Non-Medical,
Polytechnics, Pharmacy and many more. But all these are
done very late as point of view of student. All the option
given to then should be at secondary education level. It will
help them a lot in their future prospective.
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III. EDUCATIONAL/LITERACY STATISTICS OF
HIMACHAL PRADESH IN 2016
Till Independence, the status of education in Himachal
Pradesh (HP) was very poor. The LR of HP is very low
(nearby eight percentages) as compared to other states and
union territory of India. HP had the lowest LR in India at
the time of independence. But after independence HP made
a tremendous growth in the literacy rate. The growth rate of
literacy rate is very good and at present HP is stood at 11th
position among all states and union territories as well. At
present, LR of HP is 82.80% as per 2011 census. But the
main problem is with the LR of male verses female ratio.
The literacy of male is 89.53% while for female it is
75.93%. The difference in the literacy rate between male
and female is near about 13.60% (www.census2011.co.in).
If the LR of female is increased up to the level of male then
the overall literacy rate is also increased. Central as well as
State governments making a lot of afford to increase the
LR. All the information related different policies and rules
are available with the Department of School Education and
Literacy under department of Higher Education, Ministry of
HRD and Government of India.
In 2001, overall LR is 76.48% in which the male and female are 85.35% and 67.42% respectively. Here difference between
male and female LR was 17.93%. Here a brief report from 1951-2011 growth rates in LR is given for reference in Table 1:
Table 1: Literacy rate of Himachal Pradesh since 1951 - 2011
Years Overall literacy
rate
Males literacy
rate
Females literacy
rate
Difference between male and female
literacy rate
1951 7.98 -- -- --
1961 21.3 -- -- --
1971 31.96 43.19 20.23 22.96
1981 42.48 53.19 31.46 21.73
1991 63.86 75.36 52.13 23.23
2001*
76.48 85.35 67.42 17.93
2011*
82.80 89.53 75.93 13.60
After analysing this table, it is clear that HP making a rapid
growth in education sector and hence at present hold a very
respectable position (11th position) among all states and
union territory. But the difference between male and female
LR is one of the major problem factor for Himachal Pradesh
Government.
Figure 1: Graphical representation of LR of Himachal Pradesh since 1951 – 2011
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1971 1981 1991 2001* 2011*
31.96
42.48
63.86
76.48
82.8
43.19
53.19
75.36
85.35
89.53
20.23
31.46
52.13
67.42
75.93
22.96 21.73 23.23
17.93
13.6
Overall literacy rate 7.98 21.3
Males literacy rate -- --
Females literacy rate -- --
Difference between male and female
literacy rate -- --
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In last two decade, difference should be decreased from
23.23% in 1991 to 17.93% and 13.60% in 2001 and 2011
respectively. Still 13.60% difference is a problematic
situation for the overall growth of the State.
At the end of this section, gender wise literacy rate are
computed for 2001 and 2011 and then find the difference.
The result shows that only district Shimla was really doing
well since last 10 year from 2001-2011 with least progress
in Lahul-spiti district with 1.65%. The district wise literacy
rate are computed and shown in the table 2 below:
Table 2: District wise Gender Literacy rate gap between 2001- 2011 with difference
S.No District Gender Gap 2001 Gender Gap 2011 Difference
1 L & Spiti 22.12 20.47 1.65
2 Kangra 14.53 11.93 2.6
3 Bilaspur 16.49 13.49 3
4 Una 14.55 11.08 3.47
5 Kinnaur 19.9 16.31 3.59
6 Hamirpur 15.35 11.73 3.62
7 Solan 17.86 13.17 4.69
8 Sirmaur 18.99 14.21 4.78
9 Mandi 21.12 15.9 5.22
10 Kullu 23.1 16.48 6.62
11 Chamba 27.56 20.92 6.64
12 Shimla 17.12 2.4 14.72
The graphical representation of the above table is also
shown below. District Chamba, Kullu and Mandi were
also done remarkable progress. The overall LR of the
state is more the 80.00% that was good news for all, but
the gap between male and female LR is still a major
problem of concern.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
L&Spiti
Kangra
Bilaspur
Una
Kinnaur
Hamirpur
Solan
Sirmaur
Mandi
Kullu
Chamba
Shimla
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
22.12
14.53
16.49
14.55
19.9
15.35
17.86
18.99
21.12
23.1
27.56
17.12
20.47
11.93
13.49
11.08
16.31
11.73
13.17 14.21
15.9 16.48
20.92
2.41.65 2.6 3 3.47 3.59 3.62 4.69 4.78 5.22
6.62 6.64
14.72
Gender Gap 2001
Gender Gap 2011
Difference
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Figure 2: Graphical representation of Gender LR Gaps between 2001- 2011 with difference
IV. HIMACHAL PRADESH URBAN AND RURAL
POPULATION 2011
In this section, work has been done to check whether the
urban or rural population factor effect the LR of the state
or not. From search done on different search engine, out
of total population of the state only 10.03% are live in the
urban area and rest of all (app. 89.97%) are line in rural
area. From the table below, it is clear that the overall LR
of urban population is very impressing in all respect
(male and female LR). The variation of female literacy
rate is very surprising with less than 1% as compared to
male which is nearly 4.37%. The average LR between
urban and rural population is nearby 10.00%.
The main reasons behind these types of statistics are due
to more basic facilities in the urban as compared to rural
area. Almost all the reputed institution is present in the
urban area of the state. In table 2. Brief reports of LR of
HP are stated according to rural and urban population:
Table 3: LR of Himachal Pradesh according to Rural and Urban population
Description Rural (R) Urban (U) Difference between Rural and
Urban Literacy
Average Literacy 81.85% 91.10% 9.25%
Male Literacy 89.05% 93.42% 4.37%
Female Literacy 73.42% 74.25% 0.83%
To increase the overall LR of the state care must be taken
to improve the standard of education in the rural area.
And at the last most important is to provide some help to
improve the LR of female which is less than 75% both in
rural and urban area.
Fig 3: Graphical representation of LR in HP according to Rural and Urban population
V. FACTORS EFFECTING THE STUDENT
EDUCATION IN HP:
There are lots of factors which interruption the education
system of any country. It plays a very important role for
the development of society and community. Education
makes a person how to use their knowledge in solving
real life problem very intelligently. It is the practical
implementation of the knowledge for the development of
the country. The government definition of the literacy in
India is that it doesn’t necessarily enable a person to read
and write something in real life. To write this report lot of
government, research, summary, articles and blogs are
studied and then find some important points which are
mostly create problems for the smooth implementation of
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1 2 3 4 5 6
81.85%
89.05%
73.42%
91.10%
93.42%
74.25%
9.25%
4.37% 0.83%
Description
Rural (R)
Urban (U)
Difference between Rural and
Urban Literacy
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education process. All the listed problems are common
for both male and female students of the state.
We interviewed different students and find out the
problem faced by them during their study in school. Some
problems are specifics to the students (Male/Female). We
consider only those points here which are most
influencing for the female education. Let’s discuss these
points in much more detail below which are specifics to
the education in Himachal Pradesh:
 Reason specifics to the student( Male/Female)
 Physical Disorders
 Lack of interest in studies
 Health provisions
 Social Pressure
 The importance of girl’s literacy not
recognised
 Lack of Social opportunities
 Safety of girls student
 Child labour
 Gender Gaps
 Institution related problems
 School related problems
 Private schools are not affordable
 Infrastructure not up to the mark
 Family Problem of the students
 Parents are not educated
 Family related problems
 Economically disadvantaged
 Expectations of Domesticity
All the above factors are considered most influencing for
the student education in school. Some factors are most
critical for students like poor education quality,
insufficient infrastructure, family related problem and
parent’s education.
The best attribute is selected based on the frequent
occurrence in all research paper taken into consideration
for our research. In selected attributes, we have filtered 10
best attributes to predict the student dropout in education.
The best selected attributes are grade in HSG, SSG and
other related education, Gender, Family structure, Parents
Qualification, Parents Occupation, Required for
Household work, Addictions (Alcohol, Smoke, Pills,
Solvents, Drugs etc), Basic facility in the education
institution different for boys and girls, Poor Teaching
methodology adopted, Got married depicted in Figure 4.
Figure 4: Graphical representation of attributes according to their frequency of occurrences
VI. SOME SUGGESTIVE MEASURES ON HOW TO
IMPROVE EDUCATION SYSTEM:
Most of the student (Boys/Girls) the working
environment in private and government institution are
very much different. In proper coordination are
maintained in them then it can be improved in future.
Most of the student how are interviewed are agreed on
poor quality of education in government institution as
compared to private school. There are some suggestions
given by student to improve the education system are
listed below:
 Government should provide good infrastructure to
every institution.
 Most of the institutions are not providing
transportation facilities to the students. So if
institutions provide these facilities then it helps those
students who are living far from institution.
 Curriculum must be updated at regular interval of
time and add some new technology or subject for
next time.
 There should be clear drinking water and separate
toilet for boys and girls students.
 These should be some time for the co-curricular
activity in the institution. Which help then for their
overall growth?
All these point which are given by the students related to
the institution environment. Some point which are related
to the family or social life of the students. And those
factors are directly related to the student emotion and that
cannot be avoided forcefully. So it’s the duty of the
8
6
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5
3
4
2
5
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
O
c
c
u
r
r
e
n
c
e
s
Important attribute of student data
Total number occurrences
Total number occurrences
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parents, teachers and other concerned personnel to
motivate the student to do well in education.
VII. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK:
Education and Literacy are two imperative topic of this
report. And the overall LR of any state depends on them.
Any types of leniency in education may increase dropout
rate and hence decrease the literacy rate. First of all in
this report we found that the literacy rate of HP is good in
overall may be up to 83.80%. But the literacy rate of girls
is nearby 75.93%. This is one of the panic factors for the
education department as well as government also.
To find out the reason for that we interviewed more than
200 students and found that lots of factors related to the
student are taken into consideration like family, School,
social, personal related issues. And all these factor effect
somewhat in their education. In future we can take input
from more than approximately one million student data
and hence apply some data mining techniques on that data
for the prediction of the future prospective.
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