9 pc decline in school enrollment in Himachal since 2013

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 1

The state has witnessed a 9.08 per cent a decline in student enrollment in schools since 2012-13. As per the report of the U-DISE 2019-20, the total enrollment in schools, which was 14,95,396 in 2012-13, plummeted to 13,59,471 in 2019-20, a decrease of 1,35,925. However, in government schools, it has dropped from 10,49,816 to 8,010,43, a huge fall of 23.69 per cent.

Even in the primary section (government schools), the enrollment dropped by 90,541 (23.78 per cent) from 3,80,699 to 2,90,158. The enrollment in all schools in the primary section has dropped by 33,570 from 6,10,098 to 5,76,528, which is just 5 per cent.

The government opened more schools, ignoring the fact that the enrollment was decreasing with each passing year and the number of schools rose from 15,053 to 15,332, in spite of closure of 100 schools with no enrollment in 2018.

The number of primary and middle school with less than 20 students has increased from 3,940 to 6,388 and the number of schools with students between 21-60 has also gone up from 5,286 to 7,941, which speaks volumes of wastage and under-utilisation of vast infrastructure.

In past years, the enrollment in private schools has gone up by 30-40 per cent with parent preferring the schools, Education Secretary Rajiv Sharma said, adding that starting of nursery classes in 3,840 schools with enrollment of 50,000 students would reverse the trend in the coming years.

The government has taken several steps to provide quality education in schools and the efforts would be seen on the ground soon, sources in the Education Department said.

Details                                                         2012-13                2019-20

Total enrollment                                          14,95,396              13,59,471

Enrolment in Govt. schools                        10,49,816               801043

Govt. schools with less than 20 students      3,940                   6,366

Total schools                                                  17,560                18,184

Government schools                                      15,053                15,329