Bhubaneswar: The percentage of women in Odisha who have completed at least ten years of education has risen notably by 10.9 percentage points, reaching 43.9% from 33% as reported in the NFHS-5. This improvement is evident across all 30 districts, although the rate of progress varies significantly.
The most remarkable advancements were seen in Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Jajapur, and Dhenkanal, each experiencing increases exceeding 15 percentage points. Mayurbhanj led the way with a notable rise of 17.2 points, boosting its percentage from 25.1% to 42.3%.
Several districts previously identified as having low women’s education levels in NFHS-5, such as Gajapati, Boudh, and Kalahandi, also made considerable strides, suggesting better access to and retention in educational opportunities.
Despite these advancements, the southern districts continue to face challenges. Malkangiri has the lowest rate of women with at least ten years of schooling, at 18.5%, followed by Nabarangpur at 23%, Rayagada at 24.8%, and Koraput at 26.8%.
Conversely, Khordha achieved the highest education level in NFHS-6, reaching 56.3%, with Kataka at 54.4%, Jharsuguda at 54.1%, and Jajpur at 53.4%.
In contrast, regions such as Bargada, Malkangiri, Ganjam, and Rayagada saw slower growth, with increases below six percentage points.
The variations across districts illustrate significant overall progress in women’s educational attainment, yet they also reveal ongoing regional disparities, particularly in southern Odisha, underscoring the need for focused initiatives to enhance secondary education.
