A parliamentary committee has raised serious concerns about the sharp decline in student numbers as they progress through higher levels of education in India. Presented in the Lok Sabha on August 12, the Tenth Report of the Committee on Estimates (Eighteenth Lok Sabha) highlights that nearly 73% of students drop out before completing higher secondary education. The report also points out significant gaps in infrastructure for children with special needs across the country’s schools.
Understanding the Education Landscape in India
India’s school system is structured into primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels. According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2024-25 data, there are a total of 10,92,671 government and government-aided schools nationwide. The vast majority of these schools—9,11,032—are at the primary level, while only 90,866 schools offer education at the higher secondary level. This uneven distribution of schools contributes to the steep drop in student enrollment as education levels rise.
Student enrollment figures mirror this trend. While over 6.18 crore students attend primary classes, the number falls to 4.08 crore in upper primary, drops further to 2.36 crore at the secondary level, and declines to just 1.64 crore at the higher secondary stage. This pattern indicates that a large number of students discontinue their education before reaching the final stages of schooling.
Key Findings on School Numbers and Infrastructure
- Out of more than one million government schools, most are primary schools, with far fewer secondary and higher secondary institutions.
- Nearly 73% of students leave school before completing higher secondary education.
- More than half of schools lack infrastructure tailored for Children with Special Needs (CwSN), including accessible toilets and ramps.
- Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, financial support is provided to improve inclusive education facilities, but utilization of allocated funds remains extremely low.
- In 2024-25, only 5,23,143 schools had CwSN-friendly toilets, and 8,08,466 had ramps with handrails, despite there being 14,71,437 schools in total.
- Rs 482 lakh was allocated for constructing 186 CwSN toilets, but only Rs 2.60 lakh was spent, with no physical progress reported.
Why Upgrading Schools and Inclusive Infrastructure Matters
The committee emphasized the urgent need to increase the number of secondary and higher secondary schools to make education more accessible and reduce dropout rates. Upgrading existing primary and secondary schools to include higher secondary levels would help students continue their education without facing geographical or logistical barriers.
For children with disabilities, the lack of accessible infrastructure is a major hurdle. The Ministry of Education’s Samagra Shiksha scheme aims to create barrier-free environments with ramps, handrails, and accessible toilets, but the slow implementation undermines these goals. The committee highlighted that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, guarantees free education for children with benchmark disabilities up to age 18, and the National Education Policy 2020 promotes a Zero Rejection Policy to ensure no child is denied schooling due to disability.
Teacher training for inclusive classrooms is also critical, as noted by the committee, to ensure that children with special needs receive proper support. Without these improvements, many students remain excluded from the education system, contributing to high dropout rates and limiting opportunities for marginalized groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the main reason for the high dropout rate before higher secondary education?
A: The report points to the lack of sufficient secondary and higher secondary schools, making it difficult for students to continue their education beyond primary levels. Accessibility and infrastructure challenges also contribute to the dropout rate.
Q: How many schools currently have facilities for children with special needs?
A: According to UDISE+ 2024-25 data, only about 5,23,143 schools have accessible toilets for children with special needs, and 8,08,466 schools have ramps with handrails, which is less than half of the total schools.
Q: What steps has the government taken to support inclusive education?
A: The Ministry of Education provides financial support through the Samagra Shiksha scheme to improve infrastructure and resources for inclusive education. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and the National Education Policy 2020 also support free education and inclusive practices for children with disabilities.
