The Union Education Ministry has released a report on the status of internet and computers in schools in the country. According to the latest data from UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) Plus, only 57% of schools in the country have computers in working condition, while only 53% of schools have internet access.
Condition of basic facilities of schools
- Electricity and Toilet:
- More than 90% of schools have basic amenities like electricity and gender-specific toilets.
- Lack of modern facilities:
- Facilities such as functional desktops, Internet access, and ramps with handrails are limited.
decline in school enrollment
According to the Education Ministry, school enrollment has seen a decline of 37 lakh students in the 2023-24 session.
- Category of students:
- 26.9% nominations came from the general category.
Analysis of Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)
The GER highlighted inequalities at different educational levels.
- Starting level: 96.5%
- Basic level: 41.5%
- Middle level: 89.5%
- Secondary level: 66.5%
- Dropout Rate:
- At the secondary level this rate is 5.2%.
- This increases to 10.9% at the higher secondary level.
Education Ministry’s perspective
An official of the Education Ministry said,
“Despite the efforts made under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, lack of infrastructure is hindering the goal of universal education. To achieve the 2030 goals, resources will have to be used better.”
NEP 2020: Emphasis on inclusion and equity
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 gives priority to inclusion and equity.
- UDISE Plus Data:
- The report presents a snapshot of the state of school education across the country.
Where to get more information?
For more information on schools and education system, candidates are advised to visit the official website of the Ministry of Education.
The need of the hour is to take concrete steps to improve the quality and access to education.
