While there has been an overall improvement in enrolment at the elementary level
in the country during 2010-11, a study has said that enrolment in private
schools especially has been better than the government ones.
The National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA)
prepared report said as far as composite educational development index (EDI) is
concerned, Puducherry and Lakshadweep continued to remain among the top three
states with Punjab coming at the third place.
Highlighting the increased inclination among parents to enrol in 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 these level increased.
Enrolment at government schools in 2010-11 between class I and V was 94088108 as
compared to 96222886 in 2009-10. On the other hand, enrolment in all private
schools between class I and V during 2010-11 was 38235561 as compared to
37099124 registered in 2009-10, the report said.
The overall enrolment in all schools during the period between class I and V
stood at 135207057 in 2010-11 as compared to 133405581 in 2009-10.
Similarly, enrolment in classes VI-VIII stood at 57844942 in 2010-11 as against
54467415 in 2009-10, said the report, which tracks the progress of states
towards providing universal elementary education.
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.
Muslim enrolment at the primary level stood at 13.04 per cent, down from 13.48
per cent registered in 2009-10.
Punjab has pipped Kerala to be among the top three states along with Puducherry
and Lakshadweep in EDI for 2010-11 which tracks the progress of states towards
providing universal elementary education.
The study shows that Punjab gained four places to be among the top three states
in EDI, improving from 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.
The study was based on the data received from as many as 1.36 million schools
spread over 637 districts across 35 states.
