Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the higher-secondary level has fallen to 44.8 per cent, highlighting a steep decline in student participation as learners progress through the school system, according to NITI Aayog’s latest assessment of school education.
The data shows a consistent drop in enrolment across successive stages of education. The GER stands at 113.7 per cent at the primary level, declines to 77.3 per cent at the upper-primary stage, falls further to 66.1 per cent at the secondary level and reaches 44.8 per cent in Classes XI and XII.
While the figures indicate strong participation at the primary stage, they suggest significant challenges in retaining students through higher levels of schooling.
Experts caution that the 44.8 per cent figure should not be interpreted as a dropout rate. GER measures total enrolment at a particular level against the population in the official age group and may include students who are older or younger than the prescribed age.
However, the sharp decline points to difficulties in student retention and transition to higher-secondary education.
The concern is compounded by J&K’s secondary-level dropout rate of 12.9 per cent, which is higher than the national average of 11.5 per cent, according to the report.
The findings raise questions about factors affecting student progression, including access to schools, household circumstances, affordability, distance and the availability of higher-secondary institutions, particularly in remote and geographically challenging areas.
The report underscores the need to strengthen access to higher-secondary education and improve retention mechanisms to ensure more students continue their studies beyond the secondary stage.
While J&K has achieved broad participation at the entry level of schooling, the decline to 44.8 per cent at the higher-secondary stage indicates that sustaining enrolment through Classes XI and XII remains a major challenge.
