Why Bihar's education system needs to be on the ballot this election: Dropout rates, inequality, and a failing future

As Bihar gears up for its upcoming two-phase Assembly elections, the state’s education system remains under intense scrutiny. With polling scheduled for 121 constituencies in the first phase and 122 in the second, the stakes are high for over 7.43 crore voters across 90,712 polling booths.

Amid the focus on political alliances and campaign promises, education statistics reveal a deepening crisis. Bihar’s school dropout rates, teacher shortages, and systemic resource gaps have compounded over the years, making education an urgent electoral issue.

Dropout rates rising across all levels of schooling
According to data from India Data Map, Bihar's dropout rate at the secondary school level (Classes 9–10) stands at 19.5%, placing it among the worst-performing states. Only Odisha (25.9%) records a higher rate.
Dropout at the primary school level (Classes 1–5) is relatively lower in Bihar at 3.8%, but still higher than the national average of 1.4%. In contrast, states like Kerala report near-zero dropouts.
At the higher secondary level (Classes 11–12), Bihar continues to perform poorly with a dropout rate of 10.3%, ranking fourth highest in the country.
India Data Map attributes these dropout trends to factors including poverty, lack of nearby schools, early marriage, and preference for income-generating work over continued education.

Literacy gaps and enrolment disparities
Despite decades of developmental slogans, Bihar’s education metrics have lagged. As reported by Counterview, the state’s literacy rate increased from 23.4% in 1961 to 63.8% in 2011, but remains 10 points below the national average of 74%.

The 2022–23 caste survey, as cited in Counterview, revealed that:
• Only 22.67% of the population studied up to Class 5
• Only 14.71% studied up to Class 10
• Merely 7.05% completed graduation
• 32.1% of Bihar’s population never attended school or college
The same report noted that enrolment dropped by more than 928,000 students in just one year — from 18.85 million in 2022–23 to 17.92 million in 2023–24 for Classes 1–8, as per UDISE+ data cited by Counterview.

School closures and teacher vacancies
Between 2015 and 2021, the number of government schools in Bihar fell from 88.7% to 81.17% of total schools, while private school presence grew from 4.7% to 8.7%, reflecting a shift away from public education.

In terms of human resources:
• Over 2,600 schools in Bihar are single-teacher institutions
• Over 250,000 teaching positions remain vacant
• At Patna University’s Science College, only 31 out of 110 sanctioned faculty posts are filled, as reported by Counterview
Hundreds of schools still lack basic infrastructure. Some operate in the open, while others suffer from chronic textbook delays. As of September 2025, nearly 800,000 children had not received their textbooks for the academic year that began in April, according to Counterview.

Learning outcomes and foundational gaps
The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Index (2021) placed Bihar at the bottom among large states. Data from ASER reports, as referenced by Counterview, show:
• 31.9% of Class 1 children cannot recognise numbers 1–9
• 28.3% of Class 3 students cannot read a Class 2 text
• 40% of Class 8 students cannot perform basic division

Retention gaps and transition failure
Data on transition and retention rates also paint a bleak picture. The India For All in India portal summarises UDISE+ metrics showing that between 2023–24 and 2024–25, the national transition rate from secondary to higher secondary has improved to 75.1 %. However in Bihar, retention and transition lag far behind national averages.
For example:
Source: Education for All in India
Such steep fall-offs in progression show that many students are unable to cross successive educational thresholds.

What’s at stake in the 2025 elections
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in a recent briefing in New Delhi, stated that the notification for the first phase of voting will be issued on October 10, with nominations open until October 17. The second phase notification will follow on October 13, with nominations accepted until October 20. Counting will take place on November 14.

While political parties craft manifestos focusing on infrastructure and social welfare, the widespread educational neglect — evidenced by dropout rates and systemic inequality — remains a core issue affecting Bihar’s future workforce and social mobility.

With millions of children out of school or receiving subpar education, the 2025 election offers voters and policymakers a crucial opportunity to address Bihar’s education crisis head-on.