NITI Aayog flags low student retention, learning outcomes, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A NITI Aayog report reveals challenges in student retention at the secondary level and persistent issues with learning outcomes in India's school education system.
• The report highlights that four out of ten children drop out before completing higher secondary education.
• Close to 7,993 schools across the country reported zero student enrolment, with West Bengal (3,812) and Telangana (2,245) having the highest numbers.
• According to UDISE+ 2024-25, 1.19 lakh schools lack access to functional electricity.
• Reading proficiency in Grade 8 has dropped from 74.7% in 2014 to 71.1% in 2024.

Detailed Insights:

• The Indian education system is described as a sharp pyramid, with a significant drop in the number of schools from primary (7.3 lakh) to higher secondary level (1.64 lakh).
• This fragmentation requires students to change institutions multiple times, contributing to declining retention rates and limiting progression to higher education stages.
• The report recommends creating composite schools that cover Grades 1-12 under one roof to address student dropouts.
• Despite improvements in access to drinking water, 14,505 schools still lack functional water sources, and nearly 59,829 lack hand-washing facilities.
• The report cautions that an over-reliance on AI in education without ethical frameworks and better teacher training could diminish independent thinking in younger learners.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Indian government established to achieve sustainable development goals and enhance cooperative federalism.
• UDISE+: Unified District Information System for Education Plus, a system for collecting data on school education in India.
• Right to Education Act: Indian legislation that provides free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution.

NITI Aayog