Secondary School Enrolment Remains Low at 52.2%: Economic Survey

Economic Survey highlighted a major gap in secondary education, mentioning that only 52.2 per cent of eligible students are enrolled. Check details here 

Secondary School Enrolment Remains Low at 52.2%

As per Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, India needs to ensure that more students stay in school beyond class 8, as enrolment at secondary school level remains low. While enrolment at primary and middle school levels has improved over years, the secondary age-specific net enrolment rate (NER) stands at only 52.2 per cent, the survey noted. This shows that nearly half of students in secondary school age group are not enrolled, highlighting a major retention challenge.

Rural Areas Face School Shortage

One of main reasons for low retention is uneven availability of schools. According to survey

• 54 per cent of schools offer only foundational or preparatory education
• Only 17.1 per cent of schools in rural areas provide secondary education

In contrast, urban areas have a much higher share of secondary schools at 38.1 per cent.

Higher Dropout Risk for Rural Students

The lack of secondary schools in rural areas forces students to travel longer distances or change schools after Class 8. This leads to

• Transition losses
• Increased travel time
• Higher dropout rates

As a result, enrolment drops sharply at secondary stage, especially in rural regions.

PISA-like Class 10 Exam

The Economic Survey notes that assessments like NAS and ASER focus on rote learning and certification rather than diagnosing learning gaps. While ASER shows some improvement, it highlights wide disparities across regions and school types. The Survey suggests adopting PISA-like assessments, citing the US and Australia, where detailed feedback helps teachers improve learning outcomes.

NIRF-like ranking for schools

Economic Survey also proposes a NIRF-like ranking system for schools. Citing Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, it highlights third-party inspections that consistently assess schools on learning outcomes, pedagogy, governance, inclusion, and student wellbeing, with reports often made public to guide regulators, inform parents, and foster competition. The survey suggests similar benchmarking for schools in India, along with sharing assessment summaries with schools and regulators to create a feedback loop for quality improvement, while also noting NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Index 2019 findings on wide disparities in governance and learning outcomes across states.

Enrolment Rises in Cities

The survey pointed out that in urban areas, enrolment actually increases as students move from middle to secondary classes. Grade-wise data clearly shows that the decline in enrolment is mainly a rural issue. The survey mentioned that India has made significant progress in school enrolment by improving infrastructure and teacher availability.

Schemes such as Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and Poshan Shakti Nirman have helped promote access and equity, especially at the foundational levels. The survey stressed that more steps are needed as the focus moves from enrolment to learning outcomes.

Improving school infrastructure, upgrading teacher skills through stronger DIETs and SCERTs, and involving parents and communities in school governance can help create a more inclusive learning environment.

The Economic survey also highlighted importance of curriculum and assessment reforms aligned with National Education Policy (NEP), along with use of digital platforms like PM e-Vidya, to ensure quality education reaches even remote areas.