Decline in School Enrolment in India

GS 2 – Governance – Education

Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)
UDISE+ is a comprehensive data platform designed to monitor school education across India, covering pre-primary to higher secondary education.
Recent data from UDISE+ highlights a substantial decrease in school enrolment, with over 1 crore fewer students in 2023-24 compared to 2018-19. This decline is mainly attributed to improved data accuracy.

Key Trends in Enrolment Data

• Overall Decline: Enrolment decreased from 26.02 crore in 2018-19 to 24.8 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a loss of 1.22 crore students.
• COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic led to a temporary rise in enrolment, followed by sharp declines, with a 6% drop compared to pre-pandemic figures.
• State-wise Reductions: Major enrolment losses were seen in Bihar (-35.65 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (-28.26 lakh), and Maharashtra (-18.55 lakh).
• Gender Gap: Enrolment for boys dropped by 4.87%, and for girls by 4.48% between 2018-19 and 2023-24.

Causes of Decline in Enrolment

• COVID-19 Disruptions: Pandemic-related school closures and economic challenges have significantly increased dropout rates and reduced enrolment.
• Improved Data Accuracy: The implementation of Aadhaar-linked IDs in UDISE+ has helped eliminate duplicate and “ghost” entries, refining enrolment data.
• Data Cleanup: Efforts to remove double-counted students across government and private schools have contributed to a more accurate count.
• Enhanced Monitoring Systems: The shift to student-specific data collection improved tracking but revealed lower enrolment figures.
• Regional Disparities: States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra faced substantial enrolment declines due to unequal access and systemic challenges.
• Inflated Historical Data: Previous enrolment figures may have been overstated due to the lack of rigorous verification processes.

Implications of Enrolment Decline

• Accurate Targeting for Welfare Schemes: The improved data quality allows for more effective targeting of programs such as Samagra Shiksha, PM POSHAN, and National Scholarships, potentially saving government resources.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Enrolment Strategies: Initiate community programs and gender-sensitive initiatives to reduce dropout rates and bridge enrolment gaps.
• Enhance State Accountability: Regular audits and monitoring should be conducted to ensure accurate data reporting at all administrative levels.
• Leverage Technology: Expand UDISE+ for more effective tracking of student progress and enhanced data transparency.
• Policy Reforms: Provide financial support through scholarships and cash transfers, and invest in digital infrastructure to reduce disruptions and improve enrolment rates.