Context:
Recent UDISE+ 2023–24 data and Education Ministry documents reveal a significant trend: increasing student enrolment in private schools across several Indian states, despite a greater number of government schools. The Ministry flagged this issue during consultations with states under the Samagra Shiksha and PM-POSHAN schemes.
Overview of Enrolment Trends:
Data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) for the academic year 2023-24 reveals that while government schools constitute the majority of schools nationwide, their share of student enrolment is disproportionately low compared to private schools. For instance:
· In Andhra Pradesh, 73% of schools (45,000 of 61,373) are government-run, yet they account for only 46% of enrolment. Private schools (25%) enrol over 52% of students. Enrolment in unaided schools rose steadily from 2021–22 to 2023–24.
· In Telangana, government schools form 70% of the 42,901 schools but enrol only 38.11% of students. Private schools, with 30% share, account for 60.75% of enrolment. The upward trend in private school enrolment persisted except in 2021–22 (COVID-19).
· In Uttarakhand, 72% of schools are government-run, but they cater to just 36.68% of students. Private unaided schools enrol 54.39%.
· In Tamil Nadu, 64% of schools are government, enrolling 37% of students. Meanwhile, unaided schools, just 21% of total schools, enrol 46%. The Centre urged the state to improve the “government school brand” to attract students.
· In Kerala and Maharashtra, a decline in enrolments in government and aided schools was noted. Maharashtra reported a drop from 2018–19 to 2023–24, and Kerala from 2022–23 to 2023–24. Both states cited “data cleansing” using Aadhaar verification.
· In Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, enrolment dropped in 2023–24 compared to earlier years (2018–19 or 2022–23, depending on the state).
· In Delhi, Ladakh, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, private school enrolments exceed those in government schools, which the Ministry termed a “matter of concern.”
National-Level Perspective:
According to UDISE+ data for 2023-24, private schools account for 36% of total enrolment, which translates to over 9 crore students out of a total student population of 24.80 crore. While this represents a slight increase from 33% in 2022-23 and 2021-22, it aligns closely with pre-pandemic levels seen in 2020-21 and 2019-20 (36-37%).
Implications for Education Policy:
- Equity and Access: With government schools traditionally serving lower-income and marginalized communities, declining enrolment may exacerbate educational inequities.
- Quality Concerns: The preference for private schools points to perceived or real deficits in government school quality, infrastructure, and learning outcomes.
- Financial Implications: Increasing private enrolment shifts the burden of education costs onto families, potentially limiting access for economically vulnerable groups.
- Policy Prioritization: The government must prioritize reforms and investments to enhance government schools’ attractiveness and effectiveness, ensuring that public education remains inclusive and high-quality.
Conclusion
The Ministry has urged states to investigate the root causes and take remedial action. While government schools dominate in numbers, their declining enrolment reveals a credibility gap. The Centre’s advice includes building public school brand value and improving resource use.
