Why in the News?

• The Union Ministry of Education has released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2022-23 and 2023-24, showing that total student enrolment in higher education has reached 4.5 crore, with significant gains in women's participation, STEM adoption, and inclusivity.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About AISHE (Objectives, Parameters, etc.)
• AISHE 2023-24 (Key Findings of the Report, Significance, Challenges, etc.)

About the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)

• The AISHE is a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, which tracks key indicators in the higher education sector. It covers:

• Student enrolment
• Faculty and teaching staff
• Infrastructure and facilities
• Programme and course offerings
• Gender and social category participation

• The survey is a critical policy tool that informs decisions related to higher education planning, financial allocations, and reforms under initiatives like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Data is submitted voluntarily by registered institutions through a web-based portal and verified using built-in validation checks.
• The latest AISHE covers 59,533 higher education institutions with an institutional participation rate of over 90%.

News Summary: Key Findings of AISHE 2023-24

• Total Enrolment Reaches 4.5 Crore

• Total enrolment in higher education rose to 4.5 crore in 2023-24.
• This marks a 31.5% increase from 3.42 crore in 2014-15.
• Reflects growing access and demand for higher education across India.

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
  • GER, the proportion of people aged 18-23 enrolled in higher education, has improved significantly:

• GER in 2023-24: 30
• GER in 2022-23: 29.5
• GER in 2014-15: 23.7
• The rising GER shows that more young people are pursuing college education.

• Women's Participation Continues to Rise

• Female enrolment in 2023-24: 2.24 crore
• Female enrolment in 2022-23: 2.18 crore
• Female enrolment in 2014-15: 1.57 crore
• This represents a 42.2% increase since 2014-15. The female GER stood at 31.2 in 2023-24, higher than the national average.

• Gender Parity Index (GPI)
  • The GPI, which compares female and male participation, stood at 1.08 in 2023-24.
  • A GPI above 1 indicates that more women than men are enrolled in higher education. The GPI has remained above 1 for seven consecutive years, showing a sustained trend of female participation outpacing male participation.
• Enrolment Growth Among SC, ST, and OBC Students
  • The report highlights significant increases in participation among students from marginalised communities:
    • Scheduled Castes (SC)

• Enrolment in 2023-24: 69.72 lakh
• Increase since 2014-15: 51.4%
• GER improved from 18.9 (2014-15) to 27.8 (2023-24)

• Scheduled Tribes (ST)

• Enrolment in 2023-24: 28.83 lakh
• Increase since 2014-15: 75.7%
• GER improved from 13.5 (2014-15) to 22.8 (2023-24)

• Other Backward Classes (OBC)

• Enrolment in 2023-24: 1.80 crore
• Increase since 2014-15: 60.2% (from 1.13 crore)
• These figures reflect the impact of affirmative action policies, expanded institutional access, and targeted government support for marginalised communities.

• STEM Education Growth
  • Enrolment Crosses One Crore

• STEM enrolment in 2023-24: 1.02 crore, the first time it has crossed the one-crore mark.
• STEM enrolment in 2014-15: 91.5 lakh.
• Reflects growing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics disciplines.

• Rising Women's Share in STEM

• Women's share in STEM enrolment: 44% in 2023-24
• Women's share in STEM enrolment in 2014-15: 38.4%
• This represents a significant improvement in gender inclusivity in STEM fields, though further growth is needed to achieve full parity.

• Faculty Strength Increases

• Total faculty in 2023-24: 17.32 lakh
• Female faculty in 2023-24: 7.78 lakh
• Female faculty in 2014-15: 5.69 lakh
• Rising faculty strength is important for maintaining favourable student-teacher ratios and ensuring quality education.

Significance and Implications

• For Access and Inclusivity

• The rising GER reflects improved access to higher education across the country.
• Growth in enrolment among SC, ST, and OBC students demonstrates progress in social justice and equity.
• Increased women's participation reinforces India's commitment to gender equity in education.

• For Economic Development

• STEM growth aligns with India's ambitions in technology, innovation, and industrial development.
• A more educated workforce supports the country's economic transformation.
• Higher women's participation in STEM contributes to a diverse talent pool for emerging sectors.

• For Policy Implementation

• The findings align with the NEP 2020 targets of achieving a GER of 50% by 2035.
• Continued growth requires sustained investment in institutions, faculty, and infrastructure.
• Regional disparities and quality concerns remain areas requiring attention.

Challenges Ahead

• Quality Concerns

• Access has grown faster than quality improvements in many institutions.
• Concerns persist about learning outcomes and the employability of graduates.
• Faculty shortages and infrastructure gaps in many regions.

• Regional Disparities

• Uneven distribution of quality institutions across states.
• Rural-urban divide in access to premier institutions.
• Concentration of top institutions in metropolitan areas.

• NEP 2020 Targets

• India needs to raise GER to 50% by 2035, requiring sustained expansion.
• Institutional capacity, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, needs strengthening.
• Balancing expansion with quality assurance remains a challenge.

• Employability

• Concerns about the skill gap between higher education output and industry needs.
• Need for industry-academia partnerships to enhance relevance.
• Vocational and skill-based education requires greater integration.