Decline in School Enrolment: Insights from the UDISE+ Report 2022-24

For the first time in years, student enrolment in schools has shown a significant decline, according to the UDISE+ report for 2022-23 and 2023-24. The report reveals that enrolment numbers dropped by over one crore students compared to an average of approximately 26 crore annually over the previous four years. This decline is attributed to improved data collection methods that eliminated duplicate entries.

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Historical Context of School Enrolment

Between 2018-19 and 2021-22, school enrolment consistently stayed above 26 crore, with minor yearly increases. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, enrolment figures remained above the 26 crore mark. However, in 2022-23, enrolment fell to 25.17 crore and further declined to 24.8 crore in 2023-24. This marks a reduction of approximately 1.55 crore students (around 6%) compared to the average enrolment of 26.36 crore during the 2018-19 to 2021-22 period.

Revised Data Collection: A Paradigm Shift

Ministry officials have acknowledged this decline, attributing it to new data collection methods introduced in 2022-23. Under the revised system, schools must provide student-specific data instead of aggregated school-level numbers. This change has enhanced accuracy, identifying genuine beneficiaries for government schemes such as the Samagra Shiksha scheme, PM POSHAN Scheme, and National Scholarship Scheme. Officials believe these changes will result in significant government savings in the future by eliminating inflated data.

State-Wise Impact on Enrolment

States have been asked to explain significant drops in enrolment figures. Key observations include:

• Bihar: Largest decline of 35.65 lakh students.
• Uttar Pradesh: Drop of 28.26 lakh students.
• Maharashtra: Reduction of 18.55 lakh students.

However, states such as Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Telangana have reported increases in enrolment during this period.

Government vs. Private Schools

The decline has affected both government and private school enrolments:

• Government Schools: Enrolment dropped to 12.74 crore in 2023-24, compared to the four-year average of 13.5 crore (−5.59%).
• Private Schools: Enrolment fell to around 9 crore in 2023-24, compared to the four-year average of 9.34 crore (−3.67%).

Gender and Grade-Level Trends

The decline in enrolment has impacted both boys and girls, though the reduction is slightly higher among boys:

• Boys: 12.87 crore enrolled in 2023-24 (−6.04% compared to the average of 13.7 crore).
• Girls: 11.93 crore enrolled in 2023-24 (−6.02% compared to the average of 12.66 crore).

Grade-level trends reveal:

• Decline: Primary (Classes 1-5), upper primary (Classes 6-8), and secondary (Classes 9-10).
• Increase: Pre-primary and higher secondary (Classes 11-12).

Looking Ahead

The introduction of precise data collection methods is a critical step towards ensuring that resources are directed to genuine beneficiaries. While the reported decline reflects a more accurate picture of student enrolment, it also underscores the need for continued monitoring and intervention to address gaps in education access.

As states work to analyze and address these figures, the focus remains on building a robust education system that adapts to evolving challenges and ensures equitable access for all.

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Hemesh Choudhary

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