Gujarat Launches AI Dropout Alert System to Boost School Retention
The Gujarat government is rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Early Warning System (EWS) aimed at reducing the state’s high secondary school dropout rate. The system, to be launched during the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani school enrollment drive starting on June 26, will identify at-risk students in Classes 8 and 9 and provide targeted interventions.
AI-Powered System Identifies Potential Dropouts
The EWS, which has already been piloted in select schools during the 2024-25 academic year, tracks a student’s data from the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK). The VSK stores each student’s unique identification number, which helps monitor absenteeism, academic performance, behavior, and other socio-economic factors that could indicate a risk of dropping out. The system flags students at risk, prompting early intervention and personalized support to ensure they remain in school.
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Improved Monitoring and Involvement of Stakeholders
Gujarat’s government schools are equipped with a Child Tracking System (CTS), which feeds into the EWS. Once a student is identified as at risk, the information is shared with school principals, teachers, and the School Management Committee (SMC). Coordinators of Block Resource Centers (BRCs) and Cluster Resource Centers (CRCs) will also be involved in ensuring these students receive adequate support. In addition, parents will be engaged in the admission process to underscore the importance of education for their children’s future.
This move is part of Gujarat’s larger effort to combat its secondary education dropout rate of 16.7%, which is above the national average. The Shala Praveshotsav initiative, launched in 2003, aims to boost school enrollment and reduce dropouts, with a target of enrolling 25.75 lakh students for the 2025-26 academic year. The introduction of the AI-driven EWS represents a promising step towards improving student retention and achieving educational goals across the state.
