How much is spent on children’s education in India?, Pg 11.

Key Highlights:

• Girls now form 48% of school population; in higher education, women’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) exceeds men’s.
• Expenditure gaps:
  • Rural: Families spend ₹1,373 (18%) more on boys than girls.
  • Urban: Families spend ₹2,791 more on boys; in higher secondary, nearly 30% higher spending on boys.
• Course fees: Families spend 21.5% more on boys’ fees than girls’ across India.
• School type choice: 58.4% of girls in government schools vs 34% of boys in private unaided schools.
• Private tuitions: Similar enrolment (girls 26%, boys 27.8%) but spending on boys is 22% higher at higher secondary level.
• State-level variations:
  • Delhi, MP, Rajasthan, Punjab show >10% enrolment gap in govt vs private schools.
  • Tamil Nadu & Kerala: near parity; NE states often send more girls to private schools.
  • Tamil Nadu: Secondary – families spend more on girls; Higher Secondary – spending on boys ₹35,973 vs girls ₹19,412.
  • Himachal: Boys’ private tuition spend ₹9,813 vs girls ₹1,550.

Detailed Insights:

• Persistent Gender Norms: Despite enrolment parity, patriarchal preference leads to higher investment in boys’ education, linked to perceived future returns.
• Urban-Rural Divide: Urban families show wider spending gaps due to higher private school and tuition costs.
• Stage-wise Trends: Gaps are smaller in primary, widen in higher secondary, where dropout rates for girls are higher due to early marriage, safety concerns, and cultural norms.
• State Disparities: Southern and some NE States show progressive parity, while North and Central States reflect entrenched gender bias.
• Policy Implications: Existing schemes (e.g., Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, scholarships for girls, free uniforms/textbooks) reduce cost at primary/secondary level but fail to address gaps in higher secondary and coaching.

Technical Concepts Involved:

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Number of students enrolled in a stage of education as a percentage of eligible age population.
• Gender Parity Index (GPI): Ratio of female to male values in indicators like enrolment or expenditure, used to assess progress towards gender equality.
• Opportunity Cost of Education: Families often calculate returns on education investment, leading to prioritisation of boys.
• Private Coaching Dependence: Growing reliance on tuition increases inequality, as gender biases amplify spending disparities.