The quality of education determines the quality of human capital, the Economic Survey said, calling for more effort to increase enrolment and improving the quality of education in government and private schools.

According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2014, the percentage of enrolment in government schools in rural areas declined from 72.9 per cent in 2007 to 63.1 per cent in 2014.

“This decline is partly made up by private schools which have registered an increase in enrolment from 20.2 per cent in 2007 to 30.7 per cent in 2014,” the report stated.

Increase enrolment The Centre needs to work towards increasing the percentage of enrolment substantially to achieve universalisation of education, the Survey noted, adding that concerns about the decline in enrolment in government schools need to be identified and addressed.

“The decline in enrolment in government schools and some shift to private schools might be largely related to the poor quality of education offered in government schools, since it is free or offered for a nominal fee,” it added.

Another critical issue, the Survey points out, is the professional qualification and training received by teachers.

According to a report by the Unified-District Information System for Education on ‘School Education in India’, only 79 per cent of teachers in the country are professionally qualified.

“For the higher secondary level, the percentage of qualified teachers is around 69 per cent. There is need to increase the percentage of qualified teachers and also the training of both qualified and under-qualified teachers,” the report said.

Girl child education The Survey also noted an improvement in the education of girls, with gender parity having been achieved between girls and boys at all levels of education, except higher education in the case of Scheduled Caste students.

Also, in the case of Scheduled Tribe students, parity between girls and boys has not been achieved across all levels of school and higher education and special efforts need to be made in this area.

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