Srinagar, Aug 18: Jammu & Kashmir is facing a significant decline in student enrolment as children move through successive stages of school education, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) falling to 44.8 per cent at the higher-secondary level, according to a NITI Aayog report.
The report, titled “School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement”, points to a widening gap in enrolment between the early years of schooling and Classes XI and XII. The figures indicate that while enrolment is high at the primary stage, a large number of students do not continue through the higher levels.
J&K’s GER stands at 113.7 per cent at the primary level. It declines to 77.3 per cent at upper-primary, 66.1 per cent at secondary and just 44.8 per cent at higher-secondary level.
The trend is accompanied by a secondary-level dropout rate of 12.9 per cent in J&K, above the national average of 11.5 per cent. The figures underline the need for stronger measures to retain students and support their transition to higher classes.
The report has also raised questions over the distribution and utilisation of teaching resources. As many as 146 schools in J&K have no students enrolled, despite 61 teachers being posted there. At the same time, 1,371 schools are operating with only one teacher. These institutions together have 32,303 students, highlighting the pressure on teaching staff in several schools.
Infrastructure remains another concern. Only 16.5 per cent of schools in J&K have functional smart classrooms, limiting students’ access to technology-based learning.
The report also shows that only 45.4 per cent of schools have ramps for children with special needs. The figures point to gaps in making schools more accessible and inclusive.
The findings highlight the need to improve student retention, rationalise teaching resources and strengthen school infrastructure, particularly at the higher-secondary level.
