Public Education System in India

Published on 24 Jan 2025

As per data from UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education), as of 2021–22, India has a school student population of about 265 million. There are nearly 1.5 million schools, of which 74 percent are in the government and government-aided category, and 26 percent are in the private sector. However, a disproportionately higher number of students (35 percent) are enrolled in educational institutions in the private sector.

Challenges faced by Public Education Sector in India

Learning Level Crisis: The learning outcomes in public schools of many states have been poor due to poor management, poor physical and human resources.

Example: As per ASER report, in Chhattisgarh, there is a 10 % drop in that of government-school students of Class III who can do subtraction when 2021 levels are compared to 2018.

Poor School Infrastructure: The infrastructure at public schools are below par due to limited access to funds and diversion of available funds.

Example: 42% of these schools were without furniture, 23% without functional electricity, 22% without ramps for the physically disabled, and 15% without WASH facilities.

Learning Loss due to Covid: Many public schools got closed down during COVID, with digital learning unaffordable to many. Consequently, when the schools reopened, children are unable to catch up with their syllabus leading to learning loss.
Insufficient Number of Teachers: There is a huge shortfall in the number of teachers, especially in rural India.

Example: Around 1.1 lakh schools in India are single-teacher entities. A total of 19%, or 11.16 lakh teaching positions in schools, lie vacant in the country. In rural areas, the number is as high as 69%.

Elitist bias in the implementation of education policies: India’s education profile has a top-heavy structure, neglecting basic education and prioritizing higher education. The ratio of per-student public expenditure at the tertiary level is high relative to the primary level in India.

Example: Half the population is crowded at the bottom, either illiterate or with only primary education.

Non-inclusive and in-equitable education system: Despite reservations, SCs, STs and OBCs are underrepresented in public higher educational institutions as per Economic Survey 2020-21.

Example: The suicide of Rohit Vemula, a Ph.D. scholar at the University of Hyderabad, in 2016 had brought forward the discrimination still existing in these institutions

Poor Public Spending: As per the Economic Survey 2023, the combined expenditure on education by the Centre and States (as a percentage of GDP), has remained stagnant at 2.9% during 2019-20 to 2022-23 (BE).

Example: As a percentage of total government expenditure, it slid from 10.7% in 2019-20 to 9.5% in 2022-23 (BE)

Measures Required to Uplift the Public Education System in India

Improving the quality of teachers: Optimized selection process and continuous training of teachers.

Example: Integrated Teacher Education Program under NEP to create teachers well versed in latest advances in education and pedagogy.

Mobilizing Resources for spending: While increasing the public spending on Education top 6% of GDP as per the NEP, private resources can be mobilized to fill the resource gap.

Example: Under their CSR cover, Pidilite Industries Ltd has supported the rejuvenation and maintenance of 129 Government Schools.

Inclusivity and Equity in Education: Special support to vulnerable groups to prevent them being marginalised due to elitist bias in the education system.

Example: Ekalavya Model Residential Schools in tribal areas

International Exposure: Collaborating with International Bodies to enhance the standards of Public Education.

Example: India’s participation in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA) of OECD to introduce competency-based examination reforms in the school system.

Competitive Federalism: Incentivizing States and Districts to obtain better educational outcomes.

Example: MHRD has designed a 70 indicators-based matrix called Performance Grading Index (PGI) to grade the states and UTs which will assist them to identify the gap and design appropriate interventions to bridge them.

World Class Infrastructure: To enable our students to compete with global standards, infrastructure should be adapted to the changing needs.

Example: 14500 schools across the country to be developed as PM SHRI Schools with upgraded infrastructure.

Hence, the government is presently on its mission to improve the standard of public education institutions, which could result in increased access to learning at an affordable rate to all sections of the society.