Updated on: Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Despite an overall improvement in the national enrolment rate at the elementary school level during 2010-11, induction of students from SC, ST, OBC and the Muslim community slumped during this period, a study claimed.
The report, prepared by National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), said enrolment rate among SC decreased to 19.06 per cent in 2010-11 as compared to 19.81 during 2009-10.
Enrolment rate among ST also dipped to 10.70 per cent in 2010-11 from 10.93 in 2009-10, said the report, which tracks the progress of states towards providing universal elementary education.
It said among the OBCs, the enrolment at primary level was 40.09 per cent in 2010-11 as compared to 42.15 in 2009-10, underpinning a concerted effort from the government to address the issue.
Muslim enrolment at the primary level stood at 13.04 per cent, down from 13.48 per cent registered in 2009-10, the report said.
However, it said overall enrolment in schools between class I and V showed a marked improvement standing at 13,52,07,057 in 2010-11 as compared to 13,34,05,581 in 2009-10.
Similarly, enrolment in classes VI-VIII stood at 5,78,44,942 in 2010-11 as against 5,44,67,415 in 2009-10, the report said.
The study was based on the data received from as many as 1.36 million schools spread over 637 districts across 35 states.
Incidentally, it found that that enrolment in private schools was better than the government ones during 2010-11.
Highlighting increased inclination among parents to enrol their wards in private schools, the report said that while enrolment in classes I-V in government schools declined in 2010-11 as compared to 2009-10, those in private schools at the same level increased.
Enrolment at government schools in 2010-11 between class I and V was 9,40,88,108 as compared to 9,62,22,886 in 2009-10. On the other hand, enrolment in all private schools between class I and V during 2010-11 was 3,82,35,561 as compared to 3,70,99,124 registered in 2009-10, the report said.
The report 'Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE' also showed a marginal improvement in enrolment among girls between class VI and VIII and a slight drop between class I and V.
While the enrolment stood at 48.39 per cent in 2010-11 as against 48.12 per cent in 2009-10, it dropped by 0.05 per cent between class I and V, standing at 48.41 per cent in 2010-11.
As far as composite educational development index (EDI) is concerned, the report said Puducherry and Lakshadweep continued to remain among the top three states with Punjab coming at the third place.
The study shows that Punjab gained four places to be among the top three states, improving from the seventh position last time to third position. In the process, it pipped Kerala whose rank stood at the fifth place. Tamil Nadu was placed fourth among the 35 states.