Students head to school on a chilly morning in Srinagar on November 20, 2024.
Overview: The total enrollment of students in Indian schools from grade 1-12 has seen a significant decline, dropping by over one crore during the 2023-24 academic year compared to figures from 2018-19. On December 30, 2024, the Ministry of Education (MoE) released the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data for 2022-23 and 2023-24, ending a two-year hiatus.
Enrollment Trends
Since the introduction of UDISE+ data collection in 2012-13, the estimated number of students enrolled in India reached 26.3 crore. The data trend indicated a stable enrollment of around 26 crore until the latest UDISE+ report revealed a drop to 25.18 crore in 2022-23 and further to 24.8 crore in 2023-24, marking a 6% decrease or a loss of 1.22 crore students.
Reasons Behind the Decline
Officials have noted that the UDISE+ reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24 differ in methodology from previous years, raising questions about the accuracy and comparison of enrollment figures. Experts have expressed concerns regarding the lack of explanation for the steep decline, particularly in government schools. Insights suggest that the methodology change alone cannot account for these numbers.
Methodology Changes
The MoE has implemented a revamped data collection methodology, which now requires individualized student data, including Aadhaar numbers. However, previous attempts to gather such data faced issues with verification and consistency. Experts believe some previous enrollment figures were inflated, indicating that a portion of these students might have been recorded multiple times due to transfers or misreporting.
For example, in the fiscal year 2022-23, ₹32,515 crore was spent under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, coinciding with the noted enrollment decrease. The current budget for 2024-25 has allocated an increased ₹37,010 crore for this scheme.
Comparing UDISE+ Data
Despite the MoE’s assertion that newer data cannot be directly compared to prior years, experts argue that core indicators such as dropout and retention rates remain relevant. Even with methodological shifts, a decline of 37 lakh students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 was recorded. The UDISE+ report has not addressed this worrying trend or clarified the reduction in schools covered, suggesting a need for transparency regarding school mergers or closures.
States Most Affected
Jammu and Kashmir reported the highest reduction in school numbers, losing 4,509 institutions. Other significant declines occurred in Assam (4,229), Uttar Pradesh (2,967), Madhya Pradesh (2,170), and Maharashtra (1,368). The challenge lies in parents seeking re-admission for their children in nearby schools, often leading to dropouts during the transition process due to increased distances.
Published – January 08, 2025 08:30 am IST
