Elementary Education in India; Progress towards UEE:
DISE Flash Sttistics: 2009-10
DISE Flash Statistics: 2009-10, Progress towards UEE were released by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, during a meeting of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Executive Council, here today. These statistics are based on the data collected during the year 2009-10 with 30th September 2009 as its date of reference. Data for the year 2009-10 is received from 1.3 million recognized schools imparting elementary education from across 635 districts spread over 35 States and Union Territories of the country. The Publication is being brought out by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), New Delhi.
NUEPA has created a comprehensive database on elementary education in India known as District Information System for Education (DISE), under one of its most prestigious projects. The project covers both primary and upper primary schools/sections of all the districts of the country. The MIS Units are now operational both at the district and state levels and are equipped with necessary hardware and software. The DISE software is also operational in all the districts of the country and is providing vital information for policy formulation and preparation of district elementary education plans. To further improve the quality of data, it has now been made mandatory for all the states to check the data on five percent random sample basis through an independent agency each year.
DISE 2009-10: School-Based Indicators
With the improved coverage, the number of schools/sections imparting elementary education dealt with under DISE increased many-fold. From 8,53,601 schools in 2002-03, their number has increased to 11,96,663 schools in 2006-07 and further to 12,50,775 schools in 2007-08. In 2008-09, as many as 12,85,576 schools imparting elementary education across 633 districts of the country are covered under DISE compared to which 13,03,812 schools from 635 districts were covered during 2009-10.
Of the total schools, about 87.13 pr cent schools are located in rural areas. During the same period, the number of primary schools increased from 6,01,866 to 8,09,874. Category-wise distribution of schools reveals that majority of the schools (62.12 per cent) are independent primary schools. The increase in the number of schools is also reflected in the Ratio of Primary to Upper Primary Schools/Sections which clearly shows the impact of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan under which a large number of schools have been opened in the recent past. This ratio for the year 2008-09 is one upper primary school/section for every set of 2.23 primary schools/sections compared to 2.45 in 2006-07 and 2.41 schools/sections in 2007-08 and 2.27 in 2008-09. Most of the states have the ratio equivalent to almost two, all of which suggests that by and large schooling facilities have been created and are available across the country. Despite significant improvement in the ratio, there are a few states, such as Arunachal Pradesh (3.93) and West Bengal (5.53), where the ratio still needs to be improved significantly.
DISE 2009-10: Facility Indicators
The preliminary analysis of a selected few indicators suggest significant improvement in all facility indicators which is true for both states as well as the country as a whole. As on 30th September 2009, 2,45,672 schools imparting elementary education have been opened which is about 18.84 per cent of the total schools in 2009-10 in the country and about 90 per cent of these new schools have school buildings. Opening of new schools is also reflected in the ratio of Primary to Upper Primary schools/sections which stood at 2.23 in 2009-10 compared to 2.27 Primary schools/sections per Upper Primary school/section in 2008-09.
The average number of instructional rooms in Primary schools has also improved to 3.2 in 2009-10 from 3.1 in the previous year. Not a single state has less than 2 classrooms in Primary schools. The average number of classrooms in case of Bihar is 2.1 as compared to 12 in Chandigarh and Delhi. The improvement in average number of classrooms is also reflected in the improvement in student-classroom ratio which has improved to 32 students per classroom in 2009-10 from 35 students in the previous year.
About 92 of the 1.3 million schools that impart elementary education in the country now have drinking water facility in school. All the schools in Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Pudducherry have been provided with the drinking water facility in the school. 87.77 per cent schools had drinking water facility in 2008-09.
About 54.31 per cent schools in the country now have access to common toilets in 2009-10. About 59 per cent of total 1.3 million schools have girl’s toilet compared to 53.60 per cent in the previous year i.e. 2008-09.
About 16.65 per cent schools have computer in the schools with percentage of such schools as high as 90 per cent in Chandigarh, 82 per cent in Delhi,
DISE 2009-10: Enrolment-Based Indicators
With the increased coverage of schools under DISE, enrolment both at the primary and upper primary level of education has also increased significantly. The enrolment increased from 128.81 million 2002-03 to 179.36 million in 2006-7 and further to 187.72 million in 2008-09 but slightly declined to 187.87 million in 2009-10. The GER at primary level, based on the DISE data is estimated to be 115.63 per cent, corresponding to 98.28 per cent NER. A few states are near achieving the goal of universal primary enrolment. Over a period of time, enrolment in upper primary classes has also shown consistent increase. From a low of 37.72 million in 2004-05, it has increased to 54.47 million in 2009-10 (GER 75.80 per cent).
Gender Parity Index (GPI)
Percentage of girls’ enrolment in primary and upper primary classes reveals that there is consistent improvement both in GPI and girls’ share in enrolment. The average of 635 districts in 2009-10 indicates a GPI of 0.94 in primary classes and 0.93 in case of upper primary classes.
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