**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 66 concerning declining enrolment in Andhra Pradesh Government Schools, answered on 01/12/2025. It acknowledges a decline in student enrolment from 70.8% in 2022 to 61.8% in 2024 and outlines measures taken by the Union Government to address this issue, primarily through the Samagra Shiksha program. States are encouraged to undertake enrolment drives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Enrolment Decline:**
* Enrolment in Andhra Pradesh Government schools (Classes 1-8) decreased from 31,71,466 in 2022-23 to 26,15,935 in 2024-25.
* **Samagra Shiksha Programme:**
* The Government of India is implementing Samagra Shiksha, a comprehensive program from pre-primary to Class XII, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education nationwide.
* Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs to improve school infrastructure, universal access, gender equity, inclusive education, quality education, digital initiatives, teacher training, vocational education, and Right to Education Act entitlements.
* **Major Interventions under Samagra Shiksha:**
* Upgrading school infrastructure including classrooms and sanitation.
* Providing school uniforms and textbooks.
* Supporting pre-primary classes to increase early enrollment.
* Identifying and supporting Out of School Children (OoSC).
* Modernizing schools with smart classrooms, digital boards, and ICT labs.
* Supporting transport facilities for better access.
* Supporting Children with Special Needs (CwSN).
* Supporting Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya (NSCBAV).
* Strengthening teacher education.
* **PM POSHAN Scheme (Mid-Day Meal):**
* Implementing PM POSHAN to provide nutritious meals, with regular evaluations for coverage, quality, and impact on enrolment.
* Infrastructure gaps are considered when preparing/approving Annual Work Plans and Budgets, with funding provided under Samagra Shiksha.
* Regular monitoring occurs through review meetings with States/UTs.
* **Andhra Pradesh Government Initiatives:**
* Continuous evaluation of PM POSHAN.
* Zone-wise menus based on local tastes and nutritional norms.
* Supply of fortified fine quality rice.
* **Enrollment Drives:**
* State Governments are encouraged to undertake enrollment drives and community mobilization.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Andhra Pradesh Government Schools**
* **Impact:** Addressed through Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN to improve enrolment and quality of education.
* **Action Required:** Continuous evaluation of PM POSHAN and undertaking enrolment drives and community mobilisation.
**Stakeholder: Students in Andhra Pradesh (especially 6-14 age group)**
* **Impact:** Aims to improve access to quality education, address dropouts, and enhance learning environments.
* **Action Required:** Participate in initiatives supported by Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN, such as enrolment drives and utilising improved school facilities.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Education Departments**
* **Impact:** Receiving financial assistance and guidance for implementing Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN.
* **Action Required:** Prepare/approve annual work plans considering infrastructure gaps, participate in review meetings, and implement enrollment drives.
Key Entities Referenced
Samagra Shiksha: An overarching program for the school education sector, from pre-primary to Class-XII, aiming to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education across the country.
Andhra Pradesh: Indian state where a decline in student enrollment in government schools is being investigated.
PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) Scheme: A scheme implemented to provide a nutritious hot cooked meal in government and aided schools, aimed at improving enrolment, retention and attendance.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009: An act entitling provisions under Samagra Shiksha.
UDISE+: Unified District Information System for Education Plus, data system used to assess enrolment.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 66
ANSWERED ON 01/12/2025
Declining Enrolment in Andhra Pradesh Government Schools
66. Shri Y S Avinash Reddy:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is a decline in enrolment of students in the age group of 6-14 years
in Andhra Pradesh Government School from 70.8 percent in 2022 to 61.8 percent
in 2024, if so, the details of the reasons thereof;
(b) whether the Government has carried out evaluations of schemes like infrastructure
upgrades and Mid-Day Meals in these schools, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of policy measures proposed to be taken by the Union Government to
reverse the above said decline with timelines?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a): As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus),
enrolment of students in Class 1 – 8 (Elementary level), in Government schools of
Andhra Pradesh, during 2022-23 and 2024-25 is 31,71,466 and 26,15,935
respectively.
(b) & (c): Government of India is implementing Samagra Shiksha, an overarching
programme for the school education sector extending from pre-primary to Class-XII.
Samagra Shiksha aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all
levels of school education, across the country. Financial assistance is provided to
States/UTs for improving school infrastructure, universal access, bringing gender
equity, promoting inclusive education, quality education, digital initiatives,
strengthening teacher education institutions, vocational education, entitlements
under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, etc. Some
of the major interventions under Samagra Shiksha are as follows: -i. Upgradation and improvement of school infrastructure including classrooms,
basic facilities, sanitation, safe and clean environment making government
schools more attractive.
ii. Support for providing school uniforms, and text books.
iii. Support for pre-primary class in government schools to help children get into
formal school system from early age, increasing overall enrollment.
iv. Identifying Out of School Children (OoSC) and giving support for continuing
their education in age-appropriate class.
v. Support for Smart classrooms, digital boards, ICT labs, virtual classrooms to
modernize government schools and reduce the school appeal gap vis a vis
private school.
vi. Support for transport facilities to provide access to school.
vii. Support for Children with Special Needs (CwSN).
viii. Support for Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs), and Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose Awasiya Vidyalaya (NSCBAV) for marginal / weaker sections to
continue education in a safe residential/ school facility up to higher classes.
ix. Support for strengthening teacher education.
Further, PM POSHAN scheme (Mid-Day Meal) is implemented to provide a
nutritious hot cooked meal in government and aided schools, and is periodically
evaluated for coverage, quality, nutrition norms and impact on enrolment, retention
and attendance.
Implementation of Samagra Shiksha and PM POSHAN schemes are regularly
reviewed to assess adequacy / utilization of infrastructure and for achieving desired
objectives. Annual Work Plan & Budget of Samagra Shiksha of States/UTs is
prepared/approved taking into consideration the infrastructure gaps and funding
under Samagra Shiksha is provided to address such gaps. The position is regularly
monitored through periodical review meetings with States/UTs.
The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has been undertaking continuous
evaluation of PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal) Scheme in all Government Schools.
Following initiatives have been taken under this scheme to improve the enrolment of
students in Government schools:-
i. Zone wise menu as per local taste of children and available ingredients
duly taking the inputs from Nutritional and Educational Experts as per
Government of India Nutritional Norms.
ii. Supply of fortified fine quality rice.
State Governments are encouraged to undertake enrolment drives, door-to-door
campaigns, community mobilization, etc. to increase enrollment of students in
Government schools.
****