What’s in Today’s Article?

• Introduction (Context, About USDISE+)
• Key Highlights of the Report by USDISE (Basic Amenities, Challenges, etc.)
• Conclusion

Introduction:

• The latest data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) highlights critical aspects of India’s school infrastructure and enrolment trends.
  • UDISE+ is one of the largest Management Information Systems initiated by Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• These findings shed light on both improvements and persistent challenges in the education system.

Single-Teacher and Zero Enrolment Schools:

• The number of single-teacher schools in India has decreased from 1,18,190 in 2022-23 to 1,10,971 in 2023-24, marking a reduction of 7,219 schools.
• This decline has also been accompanied by a drop in student enrolment in these schools, which fell from 47.43 lakh to 39.94 lakh over the same period.
• On the other hand, the number of schools with zero enrolments has seen a worrying increase.
• From 10,294 schools in 2022-23, the count rose to 12,954 schools in 2023-24, an increase of 2,660 schools. States such as West Bengal (3,254 schools), Rajasthan (2,167 schools), and Telangana (2,097 schools) report the highest numbers.
• Officials attribute this phenomenon to the possibility of schools awaiting new batches of students; however, if enrolment fails to resume, these schools risk closure.

Basic Amenities in Schools:

• Among India’s 14.71 lakh schools, infrastructural gaps remain evident:
• Electricity:
  • 1.52 lakh schools still lack functional electricity.
  • Government schools account for the majority, with 9.12 lakh out of 10.17 lakh government schools having functional electricity.
• Drinking Water:
  • While 14.47 lakh schools claim to have drinking water facilities, only 14.11 lakh have them functional.
  • Approximately 24,580 schools lack any drinking water facility.
• Toilets:
  • Of 14.71 lakh schools, 14.50 lakh have toilets, but 14.04 lakh are functional.
  • Government schools constitute the majority of the 67,000 schools operating without functional toilets.
• Access for Differently-Abled Students:
  • Only 33.2% of government schools have disabled-friendly toilets, and of these, only 30.6% are functional.
  • 77% of schools have ramps, but just 52.3% have ramps with handrails, limiting accessibility.
• Technology & Co-Curricular Activities:
  • 50% of schools lack access to functional computers for teaching.
  • Only 17.5% of schools have dedicated arts and crafts rooms, with government schools lagging further at 9.9%.
  • Among schools with secondary sections, only 1.6 lakh out of 2.86 lakh have integrated science laboratories.
• Renewable Energy Adoption:
  • The uptake of solar panels in schools is minimal, with only 1.54 lakh schools (10.5%) equipped with solar energy systems.
  • Government schools fare worse, with only 8.8% (89,746 schools) having installed solar panels.
• Regional Disparities:
  • Madhya Pradesh leads in the number of single-teacher schools (13,198), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12,611).
  • West Bengal has the highest number of schools with zero enrolments, a trend that raises concerns about the viability of these institutions.

Conclusion:

• While there have been some improvements, such as the decline in single-teacher schools, challenges like the rise in zero-enrolment schools, lack of basic amenities, and inadequate facilities for differently-abled students continue to persist.
• Addressing these issues requires a focused approach involving infrastructure upgrades, increased teacher deployment, and better accessibility measures to ensure quality education for all.
• The UDISE+ data serves as a vital tool to identify gaps and shape policies aimed at transforming India’s educational landscape.