Decline in Government School Enrolments Prompts Centre to Call for Remedial Action

The Ministry of Education has raised serious concerns over a significant decline in student enrolment in government schools across 23 states and union territories for the academic year 2024–25. According to official data, several major states — including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and West Bengal — have witnessed a drop of over one lakh students each.

This downward trend is being attributed to multiple factors, such as the removal of duplicate entries from school records and a shift of students to private institutions in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The migration to private schools is seen as part of a broader trend where parents, post-pandemic, are seeking alternative educational options due to perceived gaps in quality and infrastructure in government schools.

Among the states, Punjab has emerged as a particular point of concern. The state has reported a low Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at the higher secondary level. The challenges in Punjab include:

These systemic issues are believed to be directly impacting retention and enrolment rates, particularly at the senior secondary level.

In response to these developments, the Union Ministry of Education has issued directives to all affected states and UTs, urging them to conduct detailed investigations into the causes of declining enrolment. The Centre has asked for actionable plans aimed at reversing this trend, which threatens to undermine progress in universalizing education and ensuring equitable access to quality schooling.

States have been encouraged to improve basic school infrastructure, address teacher vacancies on a priority, and enforce RTE mandates to restore public confidence in the government schooling system.

The Ministry is expected to review the submitted action plans in upcoming meetings with state education departments, as part of a broader strategy to improve enrolment and learning outcomes in government schools nationwide.