Kendriya Vidyalayas enrolment at five-year low: Minister in Lok Sabha
New enrolments fell from 1.95 lakh in 2020-21 to 1.83 lakh in 2021-22, and 1.58 lakh in 2022-23. The number rose to 1.75 lakh in 2023-24, before falling to 1.39 lakh in 2024-25.
The total number of students studying in KVs has also dropped in this period, from nearly 13.88 lakh in 2020-21 to 13.5 lakh in 2024-25, says data provided by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in response to a question from MPs BK Parthasarathi and Sudha R.
Kendriya Vidyalayas — a total of 1,280 are functioning in the country — cater to children of central government employees who are subject to transfers.
The drop in new enrolment comes even as the Centre approved the opening of 85 new KVs in December last year.
Pradhan said the Centre 'has approved opening of 85 new KVs under the civil/defence sector across the country and expansion of one existing KV — Shivamogga, Karnataka— by adding two additional sections in all the classes at an estimated amount of Rs. 5,872.08 crore'.
According to the data presented by Pradhan, the funds allocated to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have seen a steady rise over the past year, increasing from Rs 6,437.68 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 8,727 crore in 2024-25.
Earlier this year, during meetings with States and Union Territories to discuss the performance, plan and budget under the PM-POSHAN (midday meal) scheme, the Ministry of Education had flagged a drop in government school enrolment at the primary and upper-primary levels across 23 States/UTs in 2024-25, and asked them to identify reasons for the drop and submit reports.
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