Context: According to the Ministry of Education (MoE) Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report, student enrollmenthas decreased by more than a crore in 2023-24 compared to previous years.
About
• The Department of School Education & Literacy (DOSEL) launched the “Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+)” starting from the reference year 2018-19.
• This system allows for the online submission of data at the school level, followed by data verification at the Block, District, and State levels.
• The collected data plays a vital role in monitoring and assessing the quality of education from pre-primary to higher secondary levels.
Major Highlights
• Decrease in Enrollment Numbers: A total of 24.8 crore students enrolled for the academic year 2023-24.
• In comparison to 2018-19, there was a 6% decline in 2022-23.
• This decrease in 2023-24 was observed across primary (Classes 1 to 5), upper primary (Classes 6 to 8), and secondary (Classes 9 and 10) levels.
• However, enrollment in the pre-primary and higher secondary (Classes 11 and 12) levels saw an increase in 2023-24.
• Gender-wise Drop in Enrollment: In 2023-24, the enrollment of boys dropped by 4.87% compared to 2018-19.
• Girls’ enrollment saw a decrease of 4.48% in the same period.
• State-wise Drop: States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra experienced some of the highest declines in enrollment.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Only 57.2% of schools have functioning computers, 53.9% have internet access, and 52.3% are equipped with ramps, highlighting substantial gaps in accessibility and technological preparedness.
Challenges Faced by the Education System in India
• Inequality in Access: A significant gap exists in access to quality education between urban and rural regions, as well as among various socioeconomic groups.
• Quality of Education: Despite high enrollmentrates, the quality of education remains a concern due to outdated teaching methods, a shortage of qualified teachers, and inadequate infrastructure.
• High Dropout Rates: Many students, especially at the secondary level, drop out due to factors such as financial difficulties, early marriages, or lack of interest in continuing their education.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Numerous schools, particularly in rural areas, lack essential infrastructure such as classrooms, toilets, and electricity, which hampers the learning environment.
• Focus on Rote Learning: The education system often prioritizes rote memorization over the development of critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
• Inadequate Funding: Public investment in education is often insufficient, resulting in limited resources for schools, teachers, and necessary educational reforms.
• Overburdened Curriculum: The curriculum is often rigid and overloaded with content, leaving little space for practical skills and extracurricular activities.
• Access to Higher Education: While the number of universities and colleges has increased, the demand for quality higher education still surpasses the supply, creating intense competition.
• Technological Integration: Although digital learning is becoming more widespread, access to technology remains limited in many rural and remote areas, exacerbating the digital divide.
Government Initiatives
• Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Ensures free and compulsory education for children in the 6-14 age group, emphasizing quality education and non-discrimination.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals to students in government schools to encourage attendance, improve nutrition, and reduce dropout rates.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):Aims to promote financial inclusion, allowing students from low-income families to access government educational benefits and scholarships.
• National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education: Seeks to motivate girls from rural areas to pursue secondary education by offering financial incentives.
• Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan: Enhances sanitation facilities in schools, ensuring access to clean drinking water, toilets, and better hygiene to support girls’ education.
• Digital India Programme: Encourages the use of technology in education by providing access to digital learning tools and helping bridge the digital divide.
• Scholarships and Financial Aid: The government offers various scholarships and financial assistance programs for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, such as Post-Matric and Pre-Matric scholarships.
New Education Policy 2020:
• A focus on early childhood care and education (ECCE), especially for children up to the age of 6.
• Promotes multi-disciplinary learning across both school and higher education levels.
• Introduction of a 5+3+3+4 school structure, consisting of 5 years of foundational education, 3 years of preparatory education, 3 years of middle education, and 4 years of secondary education.
• Emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, as opposed to rote memorization.
