Published Paper Details:

Persistent rural-urban disparities in access to higher education and high dropout rates remain critical challenges in Mizoram's government colleges. Students from rural areas often encounter barriers such as limited academic resources, economic constraints, and inadequate institutional support, resulting in lower enrolment and higher dropout rates compared to their urban counterparts. This study investigated enrolment and dropout patterns in government colleges of Mizoram over five academic years, i.e., 2019 to 2024. The objectives were to determine the total student enrolment, analyse the distribution between rural and urban areas, and compare these patterns across the specified years. Additionally, the study examined the overall dropout rate and computed separate dropout rates for rural and urban students, followed by a comparative evaluation. Data were obtained from secondary sources, including the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) and state-level statistical abstracts. Descriptive statistics, trend analysis, and comparative measures were applied to assess enrolment dynamics and dropout patterns. The findings highlighted continuing inequities in access and retention, reinforcing the need for targeted policy measures to bridge rural-urban gaps and reduce dropout rates in Mizoram's government colleges.