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Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
US public schools are losing students fast: What it means for teachers, budgets, and students
The future of public education in the United States is shifting, and the numbers back it up. According to the data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), national public school enrolment is not only lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is also projected to keep declining for years to come. While these numbers vary state by state, the broader story reveals demographic pressures, policy shifts, and long-term consequences for students, teachers, and state budgets. The data from NCES gives us a clear view of how enrolment trends have evolved since 2012 and what to expect in the decade ahead. A million fewer students since 2020 Between the 2020 and 2024 academic years, US public schools lost 1.28 million students, a 2.5% drop in total enrolment. Some of the steepest declines came from states already facing demographic challenges. New York, California, Mississippi, and West Virginia each lost more than 5% of their student population. Only nine states saw any growth during that period, and even those gains were modest. North Dakota, for example, was the only state with an increase above 2%. These numbers reflect the uneven landscape of American education, shaped by cost-of-living shifts, migration patterns, and the expanding role of alternative schooling models. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo A post-pandemic plateau and now, renewed decline After hitting a low in 2021, enrolment inched upwards in 2022 and 2023. However, the recovery was short-lived. In 2024, NCES data shows that public schools again saw a net loss of over 102,000 students nationwide. Thirty-nine states recorded year-over-year declines. States like West Virginia, Arkansas, and Wyoming experienced some of the sharpest losses, with enrolment shrinking by up to 1.7%. Even states that posted modest gains such as New Jersey, South Carolina, and North Dakota saw growth under 1%. What is important to note is that this is not just a pandemic aftershock. It is part of a broader recalibration of public education that was already underway in many states well before 2020. From growth to reversal: The long view Between 2012 and 2020, enrolment in US public schools grew by 1.3 million students, a 2.6% increase. North Dakota (19%), Utah (14.3%), and Nevada (13%) led that growth. But the pandemic disrupted this momentum in ways that appear long-lasting. In Oregon, for example, enrolment rose by 7.5% between 2012 and 2020, only to fall by 6.2% between 2020 and 2024. Washington experienced a similar pattern, gaining 9.2% over eight years and losing 4.2% in the four years that followed. Some states, including California and New York, had relatively flat enrolment in the years leading up to the pandemic, but began to see sharper declines after 2020. What lies ahead for public schools Looking forward, NCES projections show public school enrolment will continue to fall, declining to approximately 46.9 million students by 2032. That marks a projected 5.3% drop from 2024 levels. States such as Hawaii, California, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New York are expected to lose more than 12% of their students in that period. Only 13 states are expected to see any increase in student numbers, which raises difficult questions about how to manage resources in areas facing population decline and how to scale infrastructure in areas where student numbers are rising. What this means for students and schools These shifts go beyond just numbers. Declining enrolment affects everything from school staffing and teacher recruitment to district funding models and building utilisation. Some districts have already begun consolidating schools, closing campuses, and reallocating resources. The NCES data underscores the need for policymakers to rethink long-term strategies around student distribution, staffing ratios, and the financial viability of school systems. The enrolment decline also intersects with broader debates around homeschooling, charter school growth, and how families make decisions about education. The COVID-19 pandemic may have accelerated trends already in motion, but the underlying forces behind shrinking public school enrolment are structural and ongoing. For educators, students, and policymakers, understanding these shifts is essential. The NCES data offers a roadmap for navigating what comes next. As the education landscape changes, so too must the conversations around it. For now, one thing is clear: in 2025, public school enrolment in the US is not just fluctuating, it is fundamentally evolving. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
NEP 2020 turns five: Charting India's educational reforms and future pathways
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, India's first comprehensive education policy of the 21st century, is a blueprint for the transformation of the nation into a knowledge society and a global knowledge superpower. Over the past five years, progress has been made by all the stakeholders to implement it, in letter and spirit. This article reviews the achievements, so far, vis-à-vis the major objectives of the policy, challenges faced, and provides suggestions for the future road map. About NEP 2020 Grounded in the foundational five pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability, NEP 2020 aims to cultivate an education system that is holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, and responsive to the demands of the 21st century. It seeks to integrate India's ancient traditional values into the educational fabric, to ensure the holistic development of students to be not only competent professionals but also good human beings. The policy outlines a comprehensive set of core objectives for the higher education sector, designed to bring about a systemic transformation, with milestones up to 2035. Objectives of NEP 2020 The primary objective of the policy is the enhancement of the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, from 26.3% (in 2018) to 50% by 2035. This quantitative expansion is coupled with a strong emphasis on the quality of education to improve academic standards concurrently. The policy champions holistic and multidisciplinary education, moving away from the traditional disciplinary silos. A key structural reform is the introduction of a flexible curricular structure and a credit system. To invigorate the research and innovation ecosystem, the policy proposes the establishment of a National Research Foundation (NRF) to fund and promote research across all disciplines. Internationalisation is another significant objective, to promote India as a global study destination by offering quality education at affordable costs. In terms of regulatory and governance reforms, the policy proposed the establishment of a single overarching regulator for higher education, the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), which would replace the existing multiple regulatory bodies. Finally, the NEP 2020 places considerable emphasis on the capacity building of teachers, which includes a focus on comprehensive training and development programs for teachers. Gross enrolments moved up by 20% Due to various initiatives, gross enrollments were estimated to have grown by about 20% in the last five years from 4.14 crores in 2020-21 to 4.95 crores in 2024-25. Post COVID-19, online education has emerged as an enabler in India's higher education landscape, particularly accelerated by the push from NEP 2020 and the digital transformation. The number of HEIs offering online programs has more than doubled, from 42 in 2020-21 to 109 in 2024-25, whereas the number of students enrolled in online undergraduate and postgraduate programs has grown about four times, from 25,905 in 2020-21 to over a lakh in 2024-25, including foreign students. Furthermore, over 90% of the HEIs reported engaging with government e-learning platforms such as SWAYAM and SWAYAM Prabha, indicative of widespread digital readiness and integration. Curricular and pedagogical reforms Progress has been made in restructuring the academic framework to foster greater flexibility and multidisciplinary learning. The Four-Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP), with multiple entry and multiple exit options, has been adopted by over 105 universities, including 19 central institutions. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has been operationalised as a digital platform for storing earned academic credits. By July 2025, over 32 crore ABC IDs have been issued, with credits applicable from the academic year 2021 onwards. Research and innovation ecosystem Efforts have been made to strengthen India's research and innovation landscape. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has been constituted as the new apex body for funding scientific research, with an ambitious target to receive ₹50,000 crore during 2023-28, which includes a budgetary provision of ₹14,000 crore from the Central Government and the balance funds to be sourced through donations from public and private agencies. The initiative of Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERUs), envisioned development of public universities on par with premier institutions like IITs and IIMs, is progressing. A grant of ₹100 crore, under the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) scheme, is earmarked per State Public University (SPU), for their transition to MERUs and 440 units in various states are, so far, approved to boost India's R&D output and global research standing. Internationalisation of higher education Under the UGC 2023 regulations, top 500 ranked global universities are permitted to establish campuses in India. The University of Southampton, U.K. is the first overseas university to open its campus in Gurugram in August 2025. Furthermore, five other globally renowned universities, Illinois Institute of Technology (US..), University of Liverpool (U.K), Victoria University (Australia), Western Sydney University (Australia), and Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy), are set to establish their Indian campuses by 2026-2027. The presence of international universities is expected to foster a more globally connected education ecosystem in India, facilitating interdisciplinary research and innovation. However, the premium cost of the foreign campuses might limit access for many Indian students, potentially creating a two-tiered system that requires careful monitoring to ensure equitable access. Integration of skills and vocational education The proportion of formally trained individuals in the Indian workforce in the age group of 19 to 24 years has increased from 2.4% in 2004-05 to 4.1% in 2023-24. Only about 5% of the students are currently enrolled in vocational courses. The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme (PMIS) 2025 is a key initiative launched to bridge this gap and enhance the employability of India's youth, which provides real-world exposure to fresh graduates. As a part of this scheme, about 1.53 lakh internship offers were made by about 500 companies, across two rounds in October 24 and January 2025 and some 50,000 graduates accepted the offers. Quality improvement and accreditation Last five years have seen concerted efforts towards quality improvement, significantly influenced by initiatives like the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). NIRF 2024, in its ninth edition, has seen 86% growth in participation, from 3,500 institutions in its inaugural year to over 6,500 unique institutions, across 16 categories. While NIRF focuses on ranking, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) plays a crucial role in the direct accreditation of the institutions. As of January 2025, about 43% of the universities and less than 20% of the colleges are NAAC accredited. In line with the recommendation of Dr. Radhakrishnan Committee report (2024) on transformative reforms in accreditation, NAAC plans to introduce binary accreditation system, which is expected to accelerate the pace of accreditation in the days to come. Challenges and suggestions Despite the advancements, the NEP 2020 implementation journey has been characterised by formidable challenges. Significant deficits in physical and digital infrastructure, a critical shortage of qualified teachers, the enduring digital divide, and constraints in additional financial allocation pose major hurdles. There is a critical shortage of qualified teachers to meet the increasing student numbers. Challenges extend beyond the mere number of teachers to encompass the need for comprehensive teacher preparation programs, reskilling faculty for new pedagogies, and adapting to transparent assessment practices. Addressing regional disparities and ensuring equitable access and quality for all socio-economic groups will continue to be a formidable challenge. Enhanced public-private partnerships, targeted capacity building for faculty, and robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are crucial. Online education, as a growth driver to enhance enrolments In order to achieve the GER target of 50% by 2035, it is estimated that nearly eight crore students need to be enrolled, which works out to be additional enrolment of about three crore students in the next 10 years. It is a daunting task, considering that the pace of enrolments in the last five to 10 years has been about 15 lakhs-18 lakhs per year in the existing institutions. It calls for substantial investment in infrastructure and capacity building towards the expansion of existing institutions and setting up new ones. Considering the response to the online education programs in the last five years, it may be a good strategy to leverage online education to grow enrolments. Currently, less than 10% of the existing universities are approved by the UGC to offer online degree programs due to the stringent eligibility criteria, based on the NIRF ranking and NAAC accreditation score. The government may review the guidelines for eligibility and allow more universities to offer online programs, without sacrificing quality. This could facilitate a jump in enrolments in the next five years. It is also essential ensure more robust digital infrastructure and connectivity in rural and remote areas to bridge the digital divide. (Prof O.R.S. Rao is the Chancellor of the ICFAI University, Sikkim)
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian diplomat visits Syria for meetings with regime led by al-Sharaa
New Delhi: India has made a formal outreach to Syria's provisional government led by former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, with a middle-ranking diplomat visiting Damascus for meetings with Syrian ministers. Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. (REUTERS) This was the first official visit to Damascus from the Indian side since al-Sharaa, whose group was once affiliated to al-Qaeda, assumed power after ousting the regime of Bashar al-Assad following a lightning offensive last December. There was no official word from the Indian side on the visit by Suresh Kumar, director of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) division of the external affairs ministry. Kumar's meetings with Syria's foreign and education ministers in Damascus on Monday were reported by State-run SANA news agency. 'A beginning had to be made and India had to register its presence. You have to open the door at some point,' a person familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Syria's foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani and the Indian delegation led by Kumar discussed 'issues of mutual concern and ways of enhancing relations between the two countries in the interests of both peoples', SANA reported. The meeting between Kumar and Syrian health minister Musab Al-Ali focused on enhancing health cooperation, particularly in the fields of pharmaceutical industries and medical training, according to another report by SANA. The two sides also discussed a mechanism for implementing a scholarship for Syrian students, and allocating a specialised engineering cooperation programme for government employees. Al-Ali stressed Syria's aspiration to establish a strong partnership with India in pharmaceutical industries and health technologies in order to support the national health sector and provide medicines. Kumar said India will continue funding specialised training courses for Syrian personnel, coordinate the training of Syrian doctors in Indian centres, and enhance cooperation in nursing, pharmaceutical industries and pharmaceutical exports, the report said. India has had strong political ties with Syria and both countries were key members of the Non-Aligned Movement. India's traditional support for Arab causes such as the issue of Palestine was appreciated by Syria. India also backed Syria's right to the Golan Heights, currently occupied by Israel, and its full return to the country. Under the Assad family, the Syrian government usually backed India at multilateral forums, including on the issue of Kashmir. In response to a request from Damascus for emergency humanitarian aid in 2021, the Indian government gifted 2,000 tonnes of rice to Syria. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India sent 10 tonnes of medicines to Syria. This was the largest medical assistance from any country to Syria during the pandemic. India has been monitoring the situation in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. At the time, India evacuated 77 Indian nationals from Syria. 'We hope that the new constitution, due to be drafted, takes into account the interests of all the sections of the Syrian society,' the external affairs ministry said in a statement around the time of the change of government. In January, al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who went by the name Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, became president of the provisional government. People familiar with the matter said the outreach to Damascus was influenced by Syria's strategic location in West Asia – the country shares borders with five key regional actors, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon – and the long-standing ties between the two sides. The outreach also follows the US decision to end sanctions on Syria after a meeting between al-Sharaa and President Donald Trump in May.
