20.10 ndian onom
(b) The states just entering the window most vital role in the country. This is why the
period have some time to plan and education sector remains a priority area for the
must pursue policies simultaneously governments. The present concerns regarding
in several areas like education, health education is briefly highlighted as given below11:
(including reproductive health), Enrolment trends: Major findings of the ASER
gender issues, and employment 2014 have been highlighted below—
generation from now on so that they
There has been a decline in enrolment
can fully utilise the opportunity.
in the government schools in the rural
areas which fell down from 72.9 per cent
socIo-econoMIc And cAste census of 2007 to 63.1 per cent in 2014. This
The identification of the real beneficiaries is of decline looks made up by an increase
paramount importance, for the success of any in the private schools during the same
targeted approach. In line with this approach the period which increased from 20.2 to 30.7
Dr. N. C. Saxena Committee was constituted to per cent. Concerns about the decline in
advise on the ‘methodology for a BPL census in enrolment in government schools need
rural areas’. Since June 2011, for the first time, to be identified and addressed. Decline
a Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in enrolment in government schools
is being conducted through a comprehensive and some shift to private schools might
‘door-to-door’ enumeration in both rural and be largely related to the poor quality of
urban India, authentic information is being made education offered in government schools,
available on the socio-economic condition and since it is free or offered for a nominal fee.
educational status of various castes and sections There is a sharp decline in the number
through the SECC. of children in standard V who can
The exercise was completed by late 2016 read a textbook of standard II in both
and presently, the errors are in the process of government and private schools.
rectification—the reason the report of the census The decline in educational outcomes in
has not been put in the public domain yet. Once private schools warrants equal attention
the census is fully ready, its findings are expected to since there is an increase in the share
be used in as guidelines in several areas such as— of private providers of schooling and
identifying the level of poverty, target population education across India.
for the disbursal of subsidies, selection for eligibility As per the Economic Survey 2016-17, an
for educational scholarships, old age pension, re- important concern that is often raised in the
orienting the existing reservation policy, better context of school education is ‘low learning
implementation (by correct identification the outcomes’. This has been pointed out in several
beneficiaries) of the MGNAREGS, National studies (including ASER, 2014). While there have
Food Security scheme, etc. been improvements in access and retention, the
educAtIonAl scenArIo 11. Based on the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
2014; Educational Statistics at a Glance 2014, Ministry
In the process of realising the demographic of HRD—as quoted by the Economic Survey 2015-16
and Economic Survey 2016-17, Vol. 1, pp. 162-163.
dividend, education and skill have to play the