New Delhi: India’s school education sector has undergone remarkable growth and transformation over the last decade, driven by a commitment to quality, equity, and holistic development. Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized these achievements during a press conference in New Delhi, describing schools as enablers of opportunity, skill, and empowerment for every child in the country.
The education landscape has seen robust improvements in infrastructure, digital inclusion, linguistic diversity, and skill development. Significant strides have been made in enhancing school facilities, with electricity access expanding from 53% to 91.8%, internet facilities rising from 7.3% to 53.9%, and library facilities increasing from 76.4% to 89%. Investments in drinking water, handwashing facilities, playgrounds, and ramps have also significantly improved over the past decade.
Government spending on education has more than doubled, with per-student expenditure rising from ₹10,780 in 2013-14 to ₹25,043 in 2021-22. The promotion of Bharatiya Bhasha has led to the availability of textbooks in 23 Indian languages, the launch of multilingual e-content, and dedicated educational channels for Tamil, Indian Sign Language, and adult education.
Student performance in board exams has seen a notable rise, with significant increases in the number of students achieving higher grades in Classes X and XII. Women have played a pivotal role in education, with the number of female teachers growing by over 30% since 2014, and women comprising more than 61% of new recruits.
In Navodaya Vidyalayas, the representation of rural students has risen to 90%, and OBC reservation has contributed to greater inclusivity. The number of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas has increased to 1,943 schools, with students achieving success in competitive exams like NEET and JEE without external coaching.
The number of CBSE-affiliated schools has more than doubled, reflecting growing trust in quality education standards. Skill education has also expanded, with over 30 lakh students now enrolled in vocational programs offered in more than 29,000 schools.
The government has implemented IT-enabled reforms to bring transparency in school management and CBSE affiliation processes, ensuring a fully digital operation for KVS, NVS, and CBSE. The introduction of new competency-based Bharat-centric textbooks under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) further highlights efforts to modernize education.
The PM POSHAN scheme has received significant investment, with ₹1.04 lakh crore allocated over the last decade. Meal costs have been revised to meet current needs, ensuring nutritional support for students in primary and upper primary classes.
Data-driven interventions have also gained momentum with the establishment of Vidya Samiksha Kendras across the country, enabling real-time tracking of student progress through APAAR IDs and large-scale surveys like the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan.
These initiatives underline the government’s sustained efforts to transform India’s school education system, creating inclusive, equitable, and future-ready learning environments for all.
Source: PIB
