Context:
India’s school enrolments dropped by 1.22 crore in 2023-24 compared to 2018-19, attributed primarily to weeding out duplicate and ghost entries through Aadhaar-linked student IDs.
Relevance: GS 2 (Education)
Decline Across School Types:
- Government Schools: Enrolments fell by 36 lakh (-2.8%).
- Government-Aided Schools: Declined by 24 lakh (-8.7%).
- Private Schools: Dropped by 21 lakh (-2.3%).
- Other Schools (including Madrasas): Declined by 41 lakh (-44.8%).
Madrasas and Unrecognised Schools:
- Recognised Madrasas: Student enrolments dropped by 16%, but the number of schools and teachers increased by 7% and 13%, respectively.
- Unrecognised Madrasas: Enrolments dropped sharply by 87% (from 6.1 lakh to 78,283).
- Other Unrecognised Schools: Enrolments declined by 56% (from 53 lakh to 23.5 lakh).
Concentration of Decline:
- Despite forming only 2-4% of total enrolments, Madrasas and unrecognised schools contributed over 33% of the total enrolment decline.
Key Issues:
Weeding Out Ghost and Duplicate Entries:
- Aadhaar-based IDs have improved data accuracy, but they may have disproportionately affected unrecognised schools and Madrasas where enrolments could have included unverified or duplicate entries.
Impact on Access to Education:
- Many unrecognised schools cater to marginalised communities, and their closure or reduced enrolments could indicate barriers to access rather than a decline in actual student numbers.
Recognised Madrasas:
- Despite increased infrastructure and teaching staff, recognised Madrasas witnessed a 16% drop in student enrolments, raising questions about retention and outreach.
Lack of Clarity on Actual Student Dropout:
- The data does not conclusively determine whether the decline reflects real dropouts or just improved data collection.
Possible Implications:
Education Gaps for Marginalised Groups:
- Unrecognised schools often fill critical gaps in underserved areas. Their decline might exacerbate educational inequality for marginalised communities.
Policy Challenges:
- The sharp reduction in enrolments raises concerns about monitoring mechanisms and the balance between regulation (e.g., closure of unrecognised schools) and ensuring access to education.
Need for Deeper Analysis:
- The increase in recognised Madrasa schools and teachers but declining student enrolments warrants further investigation into systemic challenges, including community engagement and curriculum relevance.
Recommendations
Detailed Study on Causes:
- Investigate whether the enrolment drop is due to improved data collection or actual student attrition, particularly in unrecognised schools and Madrasas.
Support for Transition:
- Provide resources to help unrecognised schools meet government recognition criteria, ensuring continued access for vulnerable groups.
Strengthen Outreach Programs:
- Focus on enrolment drives, particularly for marginalised communities relying on Madrasas and unrecognised schools.
Improve Monitoring Without Exclusion:
- Enhance monitoring systems to ensure data accuracy while preventing unintended exclusion of genuine students.
