Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+ Report) 2023-24: Key Insights

The latest UDISE+ report sheds light on the alarming decline in school enrollment for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24, marking a significant shift from the consistently high enrollment figures of previous years.

Major Highlights of the UDISE+ report

1. Enrollment Trends
   • From 2018-19 to 2021-22, school enrollment consistently surpassed 26 crore, with slight annual increases.
   • A sharp decline was observed in 2022-23, with enrollment dropping to 25.17 crore, followed by a further decrease to 24.8 crore in 2023-24.
   • This represents a total decline of 1.55 crore students (around 6%) compared to earlier years.
2. State-Specific Data
   • Largest Declines:
     • Bihar: Down by 35.65 lakh students.
     • Uttar Pradesh: Down by 28.26 lakh students.
     • Maharashtra: Down by 18.55 lakh students.
   • Enrollment Growth:
     • Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Telangana recorded increases in student numbers.
3. Enrollment by Educational Stages
   • Foundational Stage: 5.34 crore students.
   • Preparatory Stage: 6.75 crore students.
   • Middle Stage: 6.31 crore students.
   • Secondary Stage: 6.39 crore students.
4. Gender-Based Insights
   • Boys: Enrollment fell by 6.04%, with 12.87 crore boys enrolled in 2023-24.
   • Girls: Enrollment decreased by 4.5%, with 11.93 crore girls enrolled.

Reasons for the Decline

The revised data collection methods introduced in 2022-23 are crucial to the declining figures. Key changes include:

• Student-Specific Data: Enrollment figures now require details like Aadhaar numbers, reducing duplicate entries where students were enrolled in both government and private schools.
• Accurate Reporting: While the system ensures reliable data, technical challenges in UID verification persist.

Benefits of Revised Data Collection

• Eliminates inflated enrollment numbers.
• Identifies beneficiaries for education-related schemes, including Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, and National Scholarship programs.
• Expected to result in significant government savings in the long run.

Key Government Initiatives for School Education

1. PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI)
   • A centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2022.
   • Aims to establish over 14,500 PM SHRI Schools between FY23 and FY27.
2. Samagra Shiksha Scheme
   • An integrated initiative covering pre-school to Class XII.
   • Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG-4) and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
   • Extended until March 31, 2026.
3. Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)
   • Residential schools for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds (SC, ST, OBC, minorities, and BPL families).
   • Covers classes VI to XII.
4. National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for Foundational Stage
   • Introduces the 5+3+3+4 structure, integrating early childhood care and education for children aged 3 to 8 years.

Conclusion

The UDISE+ report underscores the challenges in school enrollment while highlighting the government’s efforts to address disparities and promote quality education. The data-driven approach offers an opportunity to identify gaps and implement targeted interventions, ensuring that every child has access to education.