School Enrolment in India Drops by 37 Lakh in 2023-24: Report

India witnessed a significant decline of 37 lakh students in school enrolment during the academic year 2023-24 compared to 2022-23, according to data released by the Ministry of Education through the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

The total number of enrolled students dropped from 25.17 crore in 2022-23 to 24.80 crore in 2023-24, with a reduction of 16 lakh girls and 21 lakh boys.

Key Highlights of the UDISE+ Report

1. Gender and Minority Representation
   • Minority students accounted for 20% of the total enrolment.
     • Muslims: 79.6%
     • Christians: 10%
     • Sikhs: 6.9%
     • Buddhists: 2.2%
     • Jains: 1.3%
     • Parsis: 0.1%
   • The report also highlighted disparities in enrolment based on gender and socio-economic categories:
     • General category: 26.9%
     • Scheduled Castes: 18%
     • Scheduled Tribes: 9.9%
     • Other Backward Classes: 45.2%
2. Aadhaar Integration for Data Accuracy
   • Over 19.7 crore students voluntarily submitted their Aadhaar details, helping eliminate ‘ghost students’ and enabling better allocation of government benefits.
   • The new student-wise data collection process marks a shift from the previous school-wise aggregation system, making historical comparisons challenging but providing a clearer picture of dropout rates.
3. State-Wise Infrastructure Utilization
   • States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Odisha reported an excess of schools compared to student numbers, indicating underutilized facilities.
   • States like Telangana, Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra had fewer schools relative to their student population, reflecting optimal usage.

Implications for Policy and Governance

The revamped UDISE+ system aims to:

• Enhance the accuracy of dropout tracking and reintegration initiatives.
• Align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve universal education by 2030.
• Support more effective education policies by identifying disparities in enrolment and infrastructure utilization.

Conclusion

The 2023-24 decline in school enrolment serves as a critical indicator for policymakers to address systemic issues, improve resource allocation, and enhance access to quality education. The introduction of Aadhaar-based data collection under UDISE+ marks a step forward in creating a transparent and accountable education system.