Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding a decrease in school enrollment between 2018-2022 and 2023-24. The response highlights the implementation of the Samagra Shiksha scheme and alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. It emphasizes data collection changes via the UDISE portal and outlines measures to reduce dropout rates and support Out of School Children (OoSC).
Key Points / Main Content:
Samagra Shiksha Scheme:
An integrated scheme from pre-school to class XII, aligned with NEP 2020, to ensure equitable and inclusive quality education.
Focuses on reducing dropout rates and the number of Out of School Children (OoSC).
Data Collection and Monitoring:
UDISE portal revitalized from 2022-23 to capture individual student data, creating a student registry.
Data collection method changed from Gross Enrolment Data to individual student data.
PRABANDH portal used to compile data of OoSC, identified by each State/UT, and their mapping with Special Training Centres (STC).
Support for Out of School Children (OoSC):
Opening and strengthening new schools, constructing buildings and classrooms.
Setting up Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas.
Providing free uniforms, textbooks, transport allowance, and enrolment retention drives.
Special training for age-appropriate admission, residential and non-residential training for older children.
Financial assistance up to ₹2000 per annum for OoSC (16-19 years) from socio-economically disadvantaged groups for completing education through NIOS/SIOS.
Seasonal hostels/residential camps, special training centers at worksites, and transport escort facilities are available.
Support for Children with Special Needs:
Financial assistance for identification, assessment, aids, appliances, braille kits, teaching material, and stipends for girls with disabilities.
Bridge Course Modules:
Developed by NCERT to bridge learning gaps for OoSC in Special Training Centers (STC) under the RTE Act, 2009.
Other Initiatives:
Mid-Day Meal provided at the elementary level under the PM-POSHAN scheme.
National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme encourages meritorious students from economically weaker sections to continue studies at the secondary stage.
Directives to States/UTs:
All States/UTs, including Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, have been directed to reduce the number of Out of School Children (OoSC).
States/UTs requested to participate in the Bringing Children Back to School campaign with School Management Committees and community involvement through Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Impact Analysis:
State and UT Governments:
Impact: Responsible for the majority of schools and implementing the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
Action Required: Reduce the number of Out of School Children (OoSC), participate in the Bringing Children Back to School campaign, and validate child-wise information of identified OoSC and STC.
Department of School Education and Literacy:
Impact: Implementing Samagra Shiksha and monitoring enrollment data.
Action Required: Continue implementing and aligning Samagra Shiksha with NEP 2020 and monitor progress through the UDISE and PRABANDH portals.
Schools:
Impact: Implementing inclusive practices and providing resources to students.
Action Required: Strengthen infrastructure, provide necessary support to students, and participate in enrolment drives.
Out of School Children (OoSC):
Impact: Beneficiaries of various schemes aimed at re-integration into formal schooling.
Action Required: Utilize available resources such as special training, financial assistance, and transport facilities to return to school.
Children with Special Needs:
Impact: Receiving targeted support for their specific needs to facilitate their education.
Action Required: Access available financial assistance, aids, and learning materials.
NCERT:
Impact: Responsible for developing bridge course modules.
Action Required: Continue to refine and improve bridge course modules for OoSC.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP: A national level policy by the Ministry of Education to reform the education system.
Samagra Shiksha: An integrated scheme for school education from pre-school to class XII.
Bihar: A state in India with a pronounced enrollment decline.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India with a pronounced enrollment decline.
Maharashtra: A state in India with a pronounced enrollment decline.
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas: A scheme focused on setting up and upgrading schools for girls.
National Council of Educational Research and Training NCERT: An autonomous organisation of the Government of India that develops Bridge Course Modules for bridging learning gaps of Out of School Children.
Right to Education RTE Act, 2009: An Act of the Parliament of India enacted on 4 August 2009 that describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6–14 years in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 182
ANSWERED ON 21st July, 2025
Decrease in School Enrollment
182. Dr. D Ravi Kumar:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of measures taken by the Government to address the significant drop of
1.55 crore students in school enrollment between 2018-2022 and 2023-24, as
observed across all levels of education and in both Government and Private Schools;
(b) the specific steps being implemented to counteract the more pronounced
enrollment decline in States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and the details
of support being extended to these States;
(c) the details of initiatives being taken to address the root causes of this decline, such
as socio-economic factors, migration, or infrastructure deficiencies in schools; and
(d) whether there is any link between the implementation of the National Education
Policy (NEP) and the decline in school enrollment during this period, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (d) Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the
schools are under the domain of respective State and UT Government. The
Department of School Education and Literacy is implementing Samagra Shiksha, an
integrated scheme for school education in 2018-19 covering the entire gamut from pre-
school to class XII. The scheme has also been aligned with the recommendations of
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to ensure that all children have access to quality
education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take
care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and
make them active participants in the learning process.As per data available on UDISE+ portal, total number of enrollments in
Government schools from primary to higher secondary was 13,11,13,434 in 2018-19.
In 2023-24, it was 12,42,56,425. Based on the recommendations of NEP 2020, w.e.f.,
2022-23 UDISE+ has been revitalized to capture individual student wise data and
create students’ registry. There has been a complete change in the manner of
collection of data from 2022-23 onwards from the Gross Enrolment Data to Individual
student data. This makes comparison of data from previous years statistically
different/inchoate.
One of the focus areas of the Samagra Shiksha scheme is to reduce the
dropout rate and the number of Out of School Children (OoSC). The scheme includes
the provision of opening and strengthening of new schools up to senior secondary
level; construction of school buildings and additional classrooms; setting up, up-
gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas; setting up of Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas; free uniforms, free text books, transport
allowance and undertaking enrolment & retention drives.
In addition, support is provided through special training for age-appropriate
admission of Out of School Children and for the training of residential as well as non-
residential older children. The provision of seasonal hostels or residential camps,
special training centres at worksites, transport/ escort facility are also available for
bringing Out of School Children to the formal schooling structure.
Financial assistance upto ₹ 2000 per annum is being provided for Out of School
Children of age group of 16-19 years, belonging to socio economically disadvantaged
groups, for completing their education through NIOS/SIOS, for accessing course
materials and certification.
Under the student-oriented component for the children with special needs of the
scheme, financial assistance is provided for identification and assessment of children
with special needs, aids and appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching
learning material and stipend to girl students with disability etc.
Bridge Course Modules have been developed by National Council of
Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for bridging the learning gaps of Out of
School Children studying in Special Training Centers (STC) under the provision of RTE
Act, 2009.Mid-Day-Meal is another initiative by the department for the students at the
elementary level of education under PM-POSHAN scheme. Similarly, under National
Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme, scholarship is awarded to meritorious students
of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage
them to continue the study at secondary stage.
This Department has also developed an online module for compiling the data of
Out of School Children (OoSC) identified by each State/UT and their mapping with
Special Training Centres (STC) on the PRABANDH Portal (http://samagrashiksha.in).
The concerned State/UT validates the child wise information of the identified OoSC
and STC uploaded by the concerned Block Resource Centre of the State for
monitoring the progress of mainstreaming of OoSC.
In the review meetings, national workshops and directives etc., all States/UTs
including Bihar, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have been directed to reduce the
number of Out of School Children (OoSC). Through communication at level of Minister,
States/UTs have also been requested to participate in “Bringing Children Back to
School” campaign with the full and active engagement of School Management
Committees and community involvement through Panchayati Raj Institutions.
The implementation of NEP is expected to enhance the enrolment and learning
outcomes of children in schools.
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