NITI Aayog Review of India’s School Education System
Context
A recent policy review by NITI Aayog has evaluated the progress of India’s school education landscape over the last ten years (2014-15 to 2024-25).
The study outlines key achievements, emerging gaps, and reform priorities required to build an inclusive and high-quality education ecosystem aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Review of India’s School Education Landscape
About the Report:
What is the Report?
The publication titled “School Education in India: Trend Analysis and Reform Pathways for Quality Improvement” is a policy-focused analytical study based on secondary datasets such as UDISE+, PARAKH, NAS, and ASER.
It examines parameters including enrolment, infrastructure, equity, digital readiness, and learning standards across all States and Union Territories.
Major Statistics on School Education:
- Scale of the System: India operates one of the world’s largest education networks with nearly 14.7 lakh schools catering to more than 24 crore students.
- Teaching Workforce: Over 1 crore teachers support the functioning of the school ecosystem nationwide.
- Higher Education Transition: Although elementary schooling participation is widespread, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the higher secondary level remains around 58%.
- Role of Government Schools: Public institutions constitute over two-thirds of all schools while educating nearly half of the country’s students.
Evolution of India’s Education Framework
Traditional to Colonial Shift:
India’s education system evolved from ancient Gurukul traditions to a colonial structure focused on administrative and English-language learning.
Constitutional & Institutional Foundations:
Post-independence commissions such as the Mudaliar Commission and Kothari Commission laid the groundwork for universal and equitable education.
Rights-Based Expansion:
Initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Right to Education Act transformed elementary education into a legal entitlement.
Integrated Schooling Model:
Samagra Shiksha unified pre-primary, elementary, and secondary education under a consolidated scheme.
NEP-Driven Transformation:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced the 5+3+3+4 curricular structure emphasizing holistic and competency-based learning.
Present Trends in School Education
Shift Toward Resource Optimization:
The focus is gradually moving from expanding school numbers to improving efficiency and consolidation.
Example: School numbers reduced from 15.58 lakh in 2017-18 to around 14.71 lakh in 2024-25 because of rationalization and mergers.
Broad-Based Elementary Participation:
Primary and upper-primary enrolment levels remain consistently high across the country.
Example: GER is around 90% at both primary and upper-primary stages.
Better Basic Facilities:
Infrastructure indicators such as electricity, sanitation, and drinking water have improved considerably.
Example: Schools with electricity access increased from nearly 56% in 2014-15 to over 91% in 2024-25.
Improvement in Foundational Learning:
Learning recovery is gradually visible after pandemic-related disruptions.
Example: PARAKH assessments indicate better performance in foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
Expansion of Digital Infrastructure:
Internet connectivity and digital access have grown rapidly in schools.
Example: Internet-enabled schools rose from around 8% in 2014-15 to over 63% in 2024-25.
Key Concerns in the School Education System
Uneven Availability Across Levels:
The schooling pyramid narrows sharply at higher stages, restricting smooth academic progression.
Example: India has over 7 lakh primary schools but only around 1.6 lakh higher secondary schools.
High Secondary-Level Dropout Rates:
Retention improvements at elementary stages are not fully reflected at the secondary level.
Example: Secondary dropout rates remain above 11%, compared to negligible primary-level dropout rates.
Presence of Underutilized Schools:
Many schools operate with very low student strength, affecting administrative and financial efficiency.
Example: More than one-third of schools have fewer than 50 students.
Rote Learning-Oriented Pedagogy:
Teaching methods continue to emphasize syllabus completion over conceptual clarity.
Example: ASER findings show that many Grade 5 students still struggle to read Grade 2-level text.
Regional Digital Divide:
Technology adoption remains uneven among states and regions.
Example: Smart classroom penetration exceeds 95% in Chandigarh but remains below 5% in Meghalaya.
Key Reform Suggestions
Institutional Restructuring:
Promote Composite Schools covering Grades 1-12 along with data-driven school rationalization.
Regulatory Improvements:
Create independent State School Standards Authorities (SSSAs) to monitor quality, safety, and infrastructure standards.
Teacher Capacity Building:
Strengthen professional development, subject specialization, and transparent career progression systems.
Learning-Centric Pedagogy:
Adopt competency-based learning models and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approaches.
Inclusive Education Measures:
Expand digital learning access and improve support systems for migrant children and children with special needs.
Conclusion
India has made substantial progress in achieving near-universal elementary education and strengthening school infrastructure during the last decade. However, improving secondary-level retention and ensuring meaningful learning outcomes remain major priorities. Sustained structural and pedagogical reforms will be critical for creating globally competitive human capital essential for achieving the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Source : The Print