Trend of Enrolment in Government and Private Schools

The Ministry of Education has highlighted a "disturbing trend" of increasing enrolment in private schools and decreasing enrolment in government schools across various states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.

Key Observations

• The trend was discussed during meetings for the Samagra Shiksha scheme for the 2025-26 period.
• This concern was raised in 10 out of 30 states and Union Territories.
• In eight states, the ministry also noted a decrease in government and aided schools' enrolments.

State-Specific Data

• Andhra Pradesh:
  • 73% of schools are government-run, but only 46% of students are enrolled in them.
  • Private schools hold over 52% of total enrolment.
• Telangana:
  • 70% of schools are government-run, but they account for only 38.11% of enrolment, compared to 60.75% in private schools.
• Uttarakhand:
  • 72% of schools are government-run, yet they have only 36.68% enrolment compared to 54.39% in private schools.
• Tamil Nadu:
  • Government schools are 64% of the total, accounting for only 37% of enrolment.
  • Private schools make up 21% and enroll 46% of students.
• Kerala and Maharashtra:
  • Reported drops in government and aided school enrolments compared to previous years.
• North-Eastern states like Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura:
  • Noted drops in government school enrolment.
• Union Territories like Andaman and Nicobar Islands:
  • Higher enrolment in private schools was deemed a "matter of concern."

General Trends and Reasons

• Enrolment in private schools increased from 33% in 2022-23 to 36% in 2023-24.
• Aspiration for better educational facilities is driving the demand for private schools.
• Data cleansing and Aadhaar verification are being used to understand and address the enrolment trends.

The ministry encourages states to analyze root causes and take remedial actions to attract students back to government schools.