The Ministry of Education has flagged a significant and continuing drop in school enrolment across India. The concern came to light following the 2023-24 UDISE+ report, which revealed a staggering 1.5 crore decrease in total enrolment compared to the average figures between 2018-19 and 2021-22. Recent PM-POSHAN scheme minutes suggest the downward trend is persisting into 2024-25.
MoE Seeks State Reports by June 30
In light of the growing concern, the School Education Secretary has directed all States to investigate the reasons behind the declining numbers and submit detailed reports by June 30. The ministry is keen to identify both administrative and on-ground factors influencing this trend.
Possible Reasons: Data Cleanup and Private School Shift
According to MoE officials, two major reasons might be contributing to the fall. The first is the shift in data-collection methodology—from aggregated school-level data to detailed student-wise data that includes Aadhaar and parent details. This has likely removed duplicate or “ghost” entries.
Second, some States have observed a post-pandemic shift in enrolment from government to private schools. This trend reverses the pattern seen during the Covid years, when more families turned to government schools due to financial constraints.
Midday Meal Coverage Also Drops Sharply
The PM-POSHAN review meetings also highlighted declining participation in the midday meal scheme. In Delhi, nearly 97,000 fewer students availed meals in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. Coverage among pre-primary to upper-primary students remained well below the national average. Similar drops were reported in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal, amounting to over 16 lakh students collectively.
States Urged to Act Swiftly
The MoE has urged all States and Union Territories to closely monitor both enrolment and scheme participation. Officials stressed the importance of verifying meal quality, checking if students are bringing food from home and improving awareness around these welfare programs.
