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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Disturbing trend': Centre flags low enrolment in Telangana government schools
HYDERABAD: The Union government has raised concerns over the declining enrolment in government schools in Telangana. During a recent Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting of the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE), noted that despite substantial funding and expenditure, students continue to move away from government schools, a trend it described as disturbing. The Centre urged the state government to conduct a thorough analysis of the underlying causes and take corrective measures to reverse this trend. The Union government pointed out that government schools account for only 38.11% (27.8 lakh) of the total enrolment, compared to 60.75% (44.31 lakh) in private schools. Data from 2018–19 to 2023–24, excluding the Covid-affected year of 2021–22, shows a steady rise in private school enrolments. Telangana has a total of 41,901 schools, of which 30,022 (70%) are government-run and 12,126 (28.26%) are private-run. The PAB minutes further revealed that in 2023–24, the number of schools with zero enrolment increased compared to the previous year.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘10k unrecognised schools operating in Bihar, Jharkhand'
Over 10,000 unrecognised school are operational in Jharkhand and Bihar, with over 1.6 million students enrolled in those schools, in violation of the Right to Education Act, data from the minutes of a recent Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting of the education ministry has shown. With 5,879 such schools, Jharkhand has the highest number of unrecognised schools in the country with an enrolment of 837,897 students and 46,421 teachers, the data showed, while Bihar has 4,915 such schools with an enrolment of 775,704 students and 42,377 teachers. The observation came during PAB meetings for the approval of budget and plans under Samagra Shiksha scheme for 2025-26 with officials from all states between March and April 2025. During the meeting, the ministry flagged that unrecognised schools violate section 19 of the RTE Act, 2009, which mandates pre-existing schools to meet prescribed norms within three years of the Act's commencement. Unrecognised schools are private, unaided institutions operating without formal government recognition and regulatory frameworks. 'The Act also mandates that if such schools fail to fulfil the norms, the recognition shall be withdrawn, and the school shall cease to function,' the minutes of the meetings uploaded on ministry's website recently said. Further, the ministry has both states to 'take action and issue suitable instructions to the concerned authorities to recognise these unrecognised schools or to take appropriate action as deemed fit at the earliest.' While the ministry used data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE)+ 2023-24 report, these records are not publicly available in the report which was released in January this year. While officials in the education ministry did not respond to HT's request for comment, an official in Jharkhand said that directions for appropriate action have already been issued to the schools. 'These [Unrecognised] schools started functioning before the implementation of RTE Act 2009. The state government has already issued directions for recognition of such schools. We have formed district-level recognition committees for recognition of such schools,' Sachidanand Diyendu Tigga, administrative officer at Jharkhand education project council, said. According to the minutes of the PAB meetings, the ministry has also flagged 'large variation' in reporting of data about out-of-school children (OoSC) by Bihar and Jharkhand on the education ministry's Project Appraisal, Budgeting, Achievements and Data Handling System (PRABANDH) portal and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey. The ministry advised both the states to 'monitor the data uploaded on the portal by responsible officer under the supervision of the State Project Director (SPD).' 'We will look into discrepancies in the number of OoSCs. We are running the campaign 'back to school' to enroll those students who are not going to the schools,' Tigga said. HT reached out to officials from the Bihar Education Project Council, but was yet to receive any response.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Chd hauled up for delays in setting up school labs at Samagra Shiksha meeting
Chandigarh: Chandigarh's tardy progress in key educational interventions, especially delays in implementing approved digital infrastructure, came under scrutiny at the recent Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting for Samagra Shiksha held in New Delhi. The board noted that none of the 32 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) labs sanctioned for the Union territory in 2024-25 had been completed. These labs, considered vital for enhancing digital learning environments in govt schools, remain pending, prompting the board to advise urgent follow-up and prioritisation. The UT administration has been asked to expedite execution and share updates on completion timelines. Attention was also drawn to the staffing situation at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), in which over 28% of academic posts remain vacant. Given SCERT's central role in teacher training and curriculum support, the board recommended that these positions be filled at the earliest to strengthen institutional capacity. In alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, the board suggested that Chandigarh re-examine how it allocates funds across elementary, secondary, and teacher education. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo A suggested distribution — 65% for elementary, 25% for secondary, and 10% for teacher education — was put forward as a benchmark for future planning. Support for children with special needs (CWSN) was another area of focus. The board encouraged Chandigarh to accelerate early screening and assessment processes in coordination with relevant departments, with the PRASHAST app recommended as a key tool. Training of general teachers in inclusive education, preferably through RCI-approved bridge courses, was also emphasised. While several challenges remain, the board's observations serve as both a reminder and an opportunity for the UT to strengthen its delivery of educational services under the Samagra Shiksha framework.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu sues Centre in Supreme Court over non-disbursal of ₹2,000-crore education funds
The State of Tamil Nadu has filed an original suit in the Supreme Court accusing the Centre of stopping its annual share of crucial education funds to the tune of over ₹2000-crore under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. The suit, represented by senior advocate P. Wilson and drafted by advocates Richardson Wilson and Apoorv Malhotra, said the 'glaring and apparent reason' for the non-disbursement of Samagra Shiksha Scheme funds was the State's vociferous opposition to the imposition of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 with its three-language formula and the NEP-exemplary PM Shri Schools' Scheme. The PM SHRI Schools Scheme mandates the implementation of the NEP-2020 in its entirety in the State. Also read: PM SHRI, NEP 2020 and Tamil Nadu: Politics looms over an education dispute The suit, filed through Tamil Nadu State counsel Sabarish Subramanian, submitted the Samagra Shiksha Scheme was not connected to the NEP-2020 and PM Shri Schools' Scheme in any way. 'The Union Government by withholding the State's entitlement to receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme is in ignorance of the doctrine of cooperative federalism. The halt of education funds amounts to the usurpation of the constitutional power of the State to legislate under Entry 25, List III (education). The Union Government seeks to coerce the State to implement the NEP-2020 throughout the State in its entirety and to deviate from the education regime followed in the State,' the suit argued. The Centre's unilateral refusal to provide education funds amounted to a 'blatant diktat' for the implementation of NEP-2020 and the linkage of the Samagra Shiksha Scheme with the PM SHRI Schools scheme. Also read: Over 90% in Hindi-belt States speak only one language, rest of India is more bilingual: Data The non-disbursement of ₹2151,59,61,000 towards its obligatory 60% contribution share under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme to Tamil Nadu for 2025-2026 as approved by the Project Approval Board has gravely hit the Samagra Shiksha Scheme and the implementation of the RTE Act, 2009. The lack of funds had affected 43,94,906 students, 2,21,817 teachers and 32,701 staff members in the State. The Board had allocated a total of ₹3585.99 crore as the total outlay for expenditure under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. The State sought a judicial declaration that NEP-2020 and PM SHRI Schools' Scheme was not binding on Tamil Nadu. It urged the court to declare the linkage of the State's entitlement to receive Central share of education funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme with the total implementation of the NEP-2020 PM SHRI Schools 'unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary and unreasonable'. The suit wanted the Centre to pay up ₹2291 crore to the State within a specified time fixed by the apex court along with 6% interest per annum on the principal sum from May 1, 2025 till the date of realisation of the decree. Tamil Nadu said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had written to the Prime Minister objecting to the linking of the Samagra Shiksha Scheme with the full implementation of NEP-2020 and PM SHRI Schools Scheme, and sought his intervention for the release of the education funds. Mr. Stalin had conveyed that the linkage was 'fundamentally unacceptable' and amounted to a pressure tactic to coerce the State to accept the Centrally-mandated programmes against its own time-tested State policies in a blatant violation of cooperative federalism. The Union government had rejected the CM's concerns, the suit said. The State said it had consistently opposed the three-language formula under the NEP. In fact, the State legislative Assembly had passed a resolution in January 1968 had rejected the Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 1967, as well as the corresponding resolution passed by the Parliament. 'This State Resolution called for the scrapping of the three-language formula and mandated that only Tamil and English be taught in schools across Tamil Nadu, with Hindi being excluded from the curriculum. Consequently, the State has been exempted from implementing the Official Languages Act, 1963, as provided under the Official Languages Rules, 1976. Also read: How the two-language policy officially came into force in the State of Madras The State contended that Clause 4.13 of the NEP-2020 recommended the three-language formula in all States 'under the guise of multilingualism'. 'The State has enacted legislation that duly conforms with the two-language policy envisioned by it. The third language is left to the option of the students who do not have Tamil or English as their mother tongue. Section 3 of the Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act, 2006 mandates the teaching of Tamil language as a compulsory subject from Classes one to 10 in all schools in a phased manner… The Union government cannot compel the State to implement its own policy under the guise of providing financial support,' Tamil Nadu underscored.
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Concern over fall in enrolment in sarkari schools across State
Hyderabad: The Project Approval Board meeting for Samagra Shiksha in Telangana focused on discussing the Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B) for the years 2025-26 between the Central and Telangana State education officials. The Central officials expressed concerns over the increasing number of students leaving the government schools and joining the private schools. The Central official pointed out that according to the enrollment data from government schools as per UDISE+, 'out of 42,901 schools in the State, 70 per cent (30,022) are government schools, while 28.26 per cent (12,126) are unaided schools. However, the total enrollment in government schools is only 38.11 per cent, equating to 27.8 lakh students, compared to 60.75 per cent or 44.31 lakh students enrolled in unaided schools.' The State officials were told that the enrollment trends from 2018-19 to 2023-24 indicate that during 2021-22 (Covid-19) affected enrollments in unaided schools, which have been steadily increasing. The Union Secretary (SE&L) expressed concern that despite significant funding and expenditure, enrollment in government schools has been declining. The State Education Department is asked to conduct a thorough analysis of the root causes to implement remedial actions and reverse this trend. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) and Net Enrollment Ratio (NER) for 2023-24 are better when compared to previous years at the Primary, Upper Primary, Elementary, and Secondary levels. However, both ratios remain lower at the Higher Secondary level. The State was advised to take initiatives such as district-wise data analysis to reduce the gap between GER and NER at all levels, particularly at secondary and higher secondary levels. It was also suggested that children who fail in grades 10 and 12 need to be tracked to ensure they are admitted to appropriate educational opportunities, like the National Open Schooling mode. Regarding dropout and transition rates, the average annual dropout rate in 2023-24 decreased across all levels compared to the previous year. However, a drop of 5 percentage points was noted in the transition rate from Secondary to Senior Secondary levels. The educational officials were asked to develop a plan to upgrade schools that currently stop at class 10 to accommodate classes up to 12, which may help address the dropout issue. In terms of school size and single-teacher schools, the number of schools with zero enrollments has increased compared to the previous year. Similarly, the number of single-teacher schools, as well as those with fewer than 15 and 30 enrollments, has also risen in 2023-24. Thus, it a recommended to conduct a district-wise rationalization exercise to address these concerns adequately. The Gross Access Ratio (GAR) for Primary, Upper Primary, and Secondary levels is 98.34 and 91.84, respectively. The state was advised to examine the GAR at the Senior Secondary level, which are only 64.23. On the inclusive education front, only 1 per cent of the total students are Children with Special Needs (CwSN). However, the representation in pre-primary to Class 4 is less than 1 per cent. The state is urged to pay special attention to their enrollment from class 1 and support their education through class XII. Vacancies in Teacher Education Institutions, such as SCERT and DIETs, have decreased in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. However, more than 50 percent of vacancies in DIETs remain a concern. The state government is asked to address the issue of teacher vacancies both at schools and in TEIs. The state was told that 'out of 38 schools sanctioned under NSCBAV (Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalaya), five are not functional.' The State can either make these positions functional or, if it is not feasible, consider surrendering them. The Central education officials pointed out that there are also significant delays in establishing ICT labs and smart classrooms, and substantial pendency in setting up skill education laboratories. The state is requested to reevaluate the existing job roles in light of changing job market needs. Regarding fund utilisation from 2020-21 to 2024-25, it ranges from 69 per cent to 92.33 percent of the total available funds. The state is urged to aim for 100 per cent funds utilisation by developing comprehensive plans to complete the pending infrastructure projects, for better utilisation of approved non-recurring funds.
