Enrollment in schools falls by 26,154 during 2020-21

Dropout rate in primary section doubles

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 2

The number of students enrolled in schools in Himachal Pradesh declined by 26,154 (government 7,643 and private 18,511) during 2020-21. The enrollment of students declined the most in the primary section (21,328).

The dropout rate rose at the primary and middle levels from 0.86 per cent and 0.55 per cent, respectively, in 2019-20 to 1.89 per cent and 1.36 per cent in 2020-21. Even the enrollment of children with special needs decreased from 9,232 in 2019-20 to 6,751 in 2020-21.

The decline rate of enrollment in primary section was 31 per cent (6,568) in government-run schools and 69 per cent (14,760) in private schools, as per the Unified District Information System for Education report 2020-21. (The data base of the DISE report was of September 30, 2020).

However, enrollment at the senior secondary level (Class XI and XII) rose from 2,01,904 to 2,04,473 during the year.

The report also mentions the closure of 40 schools, as a result of which the total number of schools reduced from 18,185 to 18,145 while the number of primary schools declined from 11,195 to 11,164. However, the number of government schools declined marginally from15,330 to 15,323.

The state had achieved nearly 100 per cent enrollment at the primary and elementary levels but a large number of people, especially labourers and self-employed people, left for their hometowns following the outbreak of Covid-19 and their children were not enrolled in schools of the state.

The decline in enrollment in private schools is mainly attributed to the high fee structure, which middle-class families were not able to afford due to job loss and salary cut following the Covid outbreak. Students have also shifted from private schools to government schools.

The enrollment during the current academic session (2021-22) has not been taken into account and the true picture will be known in the next year’s report, as enrollment has increased by about 29,000 students in government schools alone during 2021-22, official sources said.