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
- 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.
- 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.
- Largest Declines:
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs)
- Residential schools for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds (SC, ST, OBC, minorities, and BPL families).
- Covers classes VI to XII.
- 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.
