Srinagar, Aug 17,: The Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher-secondary education in Jammu and Kashmir has fallen to 44.8%, marking a sharp decline in enrolment as students progress from primary to Classes XI and XII, according to NITI Aayog’s latest assessment of the school education system.
The data presents a pronounced drop across successive stages of schooling. J&K’s primary-level GER stands at 113.7%, but falls to 77.3% at the upper-primary level, 66.1% at the secondary level and further to 44.8% at the higher-secondary level.
The figures indicate that while enrolment at the primary stage is relatively high, participation declines considerably as students move towards higher classes.
The 44.8% figure, however, represents the Gross Enrolment Ratio and should not be interpreted as meaning that 55.2% of children have dropped out. GER compares total enrolment at a particular level with the population in the official age group for that level and can include students outside the prescribed age group.
The sharp decline nevertheless points to a significant challenge in retaining and transitioning students through the higher stages of school education.
The issue becomes more significant in view of J&K’s secondary dropout rate, which NITI Aayog places at 12.9%, above the national figure of 11.5%.
The pattern raises questions over what happens to students between the primary and higher-secondary stages and whether factors such as access, household circumstances, school availability, distance, affordability and the transition from secondary to higher-secondary education are contributing to the decline.
The data also highlights the need to examine the availability and accessibility of higher-secondary education, particularly for students living in remote and geographically difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
While the primary GER of 113.7% indicates that J&K has achieved broad participation at the entry level of school education, the fall to 44.8% at the higher-secondary stage shows that maintaining participation through Classes XI and XII remains a substantially greater challenge.
