A ccording to the latest report of the Integrated District Information System for Education, the number of schools in India is increasing, but the number of school students is decreasing. The decrease in the number of school students is not only worrying and thought-provoking but is also a major obstacle to building a new India—Strong India. The number of schools in India has increased by about 5,000. According to the report, there are 14, 89, and 115 schools in India, including primary, secondary, and senior secondary levels. These schools teach 26, 52, 35, and 830 students. Some of these schools get high student enrollment due to their reputation, years of establishment, significant school results, marketing strategies, etc. But between the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, the enrollment of school students has decreased by 37 lakh. This situation raises many questions. Is school education out of reach of most children? Has the attraction of education decreased compared to before?
Despite the excellent facilities available in government schools, the number of students getting enrolled is not increasing. Despite the better facilities in government schools, poor quality education, inadequate teacher training, lack of accountability, competition from private schools, and the availability of good government schools in some areas, the perception that private schools offer better learning outcomes often leads to low student enrollment; this leads parents to opt for private schools even if they can afford government education. As we all know, nowadays students and their parents prefer to enroll in private schools over government schools. We see the same trend in rural areas as well, where most of the parents are dependent on agriculture and belong to the lower economic class.
Recently, the Supreme Court has directed state governments and union territories to provide basic facilities in schools to attract more students to enroll in government schools. The main reasons for low enrollment in government schools despite improved facilities are inadequate teacher training, low motivation, and high absenteeism. Teachers can significantly impact the quality of learning in government schools, leading parents to opt for private schools with better teacher standards. Even when government schools have good infrastructure, there is a perception among parents that private schools provide better education, leading to a preference for private institutions. Poor monitoring and evaluation systems in government schools can lead to inconsistent quality of education, further eroding parental confidence.
The rapid growth of private schools with facilities and marketing strategies often drives students away from government schools, even in areas where there are good public education options. In some cases, parents may choose private schools due to social pressure or a desire to access a network of peers from higher socio-economic backgrounds. Government schools may not always update their curriculum and teaching methods to align with modern educational practices, leading to a gap in quality. We have to accept the truth, however bitter it is. Inadequate facilities, low teacher attendance, and outdated teaching methods are some of the reasons why people are abandoning free government schools and choosing expensive fee-paying private institutions, which is not a very good sign.
The problem is not just that private schools have higher enrollments than government schools. There will be less care and attention in government schools. There will be mediocre oversight over the process in government schools. There is no question of the availability of proper infrastructure. This is very common with most schools running with inadequate staff. There is no accountability to parents, primarily towards their children’s education. While private schools will have the above strategy formulations available, commercial gimmicks will also be added to increase the school’s capacity. The improvement in the country’s school infrastructure also gives a glimpse of the major problems that remain to be addressed. The decline in the number of students despite the improvement in the state of infrastructure is a matter of intense debate.
Prioritize teacher training, recruiting qualified teachers, and performance-based incentives to improve teaching standards in government schools. Implement strong systems to monitor school performance, identify areas of improvement, and hold schools accountable for student learning outcomes. Involve parents and community leaders in school decision-making to build trust and promote government schools. Regularly review and update the curriculum to ensure relevance and alignment with current needs. Continue to invest in improving physical infrastructure in government schools to provide a conducive learning environment. Run campaigns highlighting the quality of education available in government schools to dispel negative perceptions and encourage enrollment.
There are some challenges in the education system that cause India to be unable to achieve optimum development. To improve the education scenario in India and increase the enrollment of students, there is a need to work strictly on the policies that ensure a quality education system in India.
Author is a Research Scholar in Political Science
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