The government schools in Himachal Pradesh have been witnessing a worrying decline in student admissions, posing a challenge to the state’s claims of improving academic standards.
According to data in the U-DISE Plus report, a drop of 54,000 enrollments was witnessed in the 2024 academic session compared to the previous year. The total enrollments in government schools stood at 4.26 lakh this year, down from 4.80 lakh in 2023-24, sparking concern among education officials. The enrollment breakdown shows 71,737 students in pre-primary, 2.36 lakh from classes I to V and 1.9 lakh from classes VI to VIII.
Maximum new admissions in Kangra district
The district-wise data shows Kangra has the highest enrollment with 61,337 students, followed by Mandi with 57,646 students and Chamba with 51,125 students. Sirmaur has 50,301 students, while Solan and Shimla have 46,996 and 45,840 students, respectively.
Kullu has 30,100 students, Una has 32,259 and Bilaspur has 23,280 students. Hamirpur showed 22,944 enrollments, Kinnaur 3,573 and Lahaul-Spiti, being the least populated region, has just 1,450 students. The total enrollment across all districts stands at 4,26,891 students.
Officials blame it on declining birth rate
Officials argue that the declining birth rate is a significant factor, with only a fraction of the reduction attributed to students shifting to private schools. The Education Department has initiated a review of the deficiencies identified in the U-DISE Plus report for 2024-25.
To address the issue, Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar has convened a meeting of district-level deputy directors on January 6. Plans to boost admissions in the upcoming academic session is expected to be finalised, alongside innovative strategies to improve the education system.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur emphasised the government’s commitment to making significant changes in the upcoming session to ensure quality education for students. He said innovation and timely interventions were essential to reversing the declining trend and restoring confidence in the state’s public education system.
Meanwhile, schools with zero or minimal enrollment have been closed, mid-year teacher transfers have been banned, and efforts are underway to fill vacant teaching posts.
