School Enrollments Drop by 11 Lakh in 2024–25; Private Schools Rise as Government Schools See Sharp Decline

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A worrying trend has emerged in India's educational landscape. For the second consecutive year, school enrollments have declined significantly. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, there were 11 lakh fewer admissions in 2024–25 compared to the previous academic year.

What’s most striking is the declining interest in government and aided schools, while private schools are witnessing a surge in enrollments, indicating a clear shift in parental preferences.

49 Lakh Fewer Students in Two Years

As per UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education) data collected at the district level, total enrollments from pre-primary to higher secondary stood at 24.69 crore in 2024–25, down from 24.80 crore in 2023–24 and 25.18 crore in 2022–23. This represents a staggering drop of 49 lakh students in just two years.

Government vs Private School Divide Grows

The statistics clearly show that student numbers in government schools are falling. In 2022–23, government schools had 12.75 crore students. That number dropped by 59 lakh to 12.16 crore in 2024–25.

On the flip side, private schools have seen major growth — from 8.42 crore in 2022–23 to 9.59 crore in 2024–25, suggesting increased demand for private education.

Ministry Cites Falling Birth Rate

The Ministry of Education has suggested that one possible reason for this enrollment drop could be the declining birth rate in India. The fall in pre-primary admissions, in particular, is seen as a direct reflection of the slowing population growth. However, the ministry noted that final confirmation will come with new census data.

This data supports long-standing projections by demographers, who have been pointing to a sustained drop in India's fertility rate. Rising education and healthcare costs, along with financial pressures, are pushing families toward smaller family sizes, and this trend is now visibly impacting school enrollments.