According to the recently released UDISE+ report by the Ministry of Education, school enrolment is projected to decline significantly across India from the academic year 2023-24 to 2024-25. This article analyses the key statistics and explores the possible reasons for these changes.
Decline in enrolment at school level
Total enrolment from pre-primary to higher secondary level in both government and private schools is projected to fall from 24.8 crore in 2023-24 to 24.69 crore in 2024-25, a reduction of over 11 lakh students. Ministry officials have attributed the fall in fertility rate as the main reason for this decline, and also pointed out that the current figures are based on the 2011 census. An official expressed hope that the upcoming census, which begins in March, may show better numbers.
Change in number of schools
The total number of schools across the country also saw a slight decline, from 14,71,891 in 2023-24 to 14,71,473 in 2024-25. Many government schools were merged, including more than 100 in Uttar Pradesh. Significantly, during the same period, the number of government schools fell from 10.18 lakh to 10.13 lakh, while the number of private schools increased from 3.31 lakh to 3.79 lakh.
Increasing the number of teachers and improving student-teacher ratio-
Despite a decline in enrolment, the number of teachers increased from 98.07 lakh to 1.01 crore, leading to an improvement in the student-teacher ratio:
- At the primary level (classes 1-5), the ratio increased from 21 to 20 students per teacher.
- At the upper primary level (classes 6-8), the number increased from 18 to 17 students per teacher.
Increase in enrollment of girl students
A notable positive trend is the increase in the number of enrolled girl students, which is projected to grow by more than 5% from 11.32 crores in 2023-24 to 11.93 crores in 2024-25, indicating progress towards gender equality in education.
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Neeraj is a dedicated content writer specializing in agricultural schemes, government policies, and rural development in India. With extensive knowledge of the Pradhan Mantri Yojanas and related programs, Neeraj aims to provide clear, accurate, and up-to-date information to help farmers and citizens access government benefits effectively. Passionate about empowering rural communities through informative content, Neeraj is a Content writer at CWB Hindi News, brings expertise in simplifying complex topics for easy understanding.