Enrolment goes up in Telangana but learning outcomes and jobs remain a concern, finds survey

The Hindu

30-05-2025

Despite progress in school enrolment and university attendance, young people in Telangana are not experiencing commensurate improvements in learning outcomes or employment prospects, according to the latest findings from the seventh round of the Young Lives study released on May 30.
The report was launched by Telangana Women and Child Welfare Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies in Begumpet. 'Studies like these are essential, and we will strive to use them to identify and correct existing gaps. Following discussions in the Cabinet, will work toward allocating more funds to address the pending issues,' the Minister said speaking at the launch.
The international longitudinal study, that has tracked two cohorts of children in Telangana since 2002 when they were aged 1 (younger cohort) and 8 years (older cohort) respectively, revealed that while access to education has improved, the quality of learning remains a concern. The sample includes 948 participants — 641 from the younger cohort and 307 from the older cohort, representing diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Between 2016 and 2023, the percentage of youth in the State completing lower secondary education rose from 74% to 83% and higher secondary education increased from 53% to 61%. University enrolment also grew from 36% to 49%. However, basic reading comprehension scores among the younger cohort showed little to no improvement between the ages of 15 and 22, pointing to a disconnect between years of schooling and actual learning and raising questions about quality and effectiveness of the education system.
Gender disparities in education have narrowed. By age 22, 60% women completed higher secondary education, compared to 62% among men, and university enrolment stood at 46% for women versus 52% for men. Still, women who experienced child marriage or early motherhood continued to have the poorest educational outcomes.
CESS Director and Young Lives, India Principal Investigator E. Revathi called for an urgent need for a shift in policy focus towards improving the quality of teaching and learning, with greater attention to students from rural areas, Scheduled Castes, the poorest households and women.
However, employment outcomes have declined. Despite Telangana having 67% of its population in the working-age group (15–59 years), the unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in 2024. The study noted a 9% drop in full-time employment among the younger cohort compared to 2016, falling from 62% to 53%, highlighting delays in securing stable employment.
On the social front, there were some positive trends. The incidence of child marriage among women dropped from 32% in the older cohort to 16% in the younger cohort. Teenage pregnancies also declined, with 22% of younger cohort women reporting pregnancies before the age of 18, as compared to 29% in the older cohort. However, early life inequalities and social disadvantages continue to restrict opportunities, especially for women and marginalised groups.