Goal 4 Education for all

Brief Note

Introduction
The CIF lists 40 indicators under this goal, the highest number of indicators for any goal and most of in which the
state is behind the national average. Of the 40 indicators 11 are included in the District Indicator Framework. In
terms of learning outcomes related to language and mathematics the state has much to attain yet at all levels
including basic and secondary education. For example, the percentage of students at grade 10 having a minimum
proficiency in terms of nationally defined learning outcomes in mathematics is just 18% (2021) and the same for
grade 8 is just 23% for the same time period; both are below the national average.

As per the Vison Document of the state government for 2030 the state is committed to ensure that all children,
adolescents and youth irrespective of gender and other social categories, access quality elementary education
including early childhood development and have equal opportunities to continue higher education. Four strategies
have been outlined in order to achieve this vision and include Expansion, Equity and Inclusion, Excellence and
Employability. The idea is to develop customized interventions for pre-school education up to higher education and
literacy related programmes. There was a 32% hike in budgetary allocation in Education for 2022-23 fiscal with
Rs.84,952 crore inclusive of basic, secondary and higher education. This was around Rs.20,675 crore more than the
previous fiscal.

Status and Challenges in the Education Sector in Uttar Pradesh

Of the total number of schools in the state 54.1% are government schools with another 3.2% government aided.
This is a distinctive decrease from the 63.5% government schools in 2015-2016. With 54.1% government schools
the percentage of government teachers is 42.2% (with the percentage of teachers in government aided schools
5.8%) which is also a sharp decrease from 49.2% in 2015-16 and corresponds to the decrease in the number of
schools over the same period. On the other hand the private sector has contributed to only 37.9% educational
institutions in the state and has more in terms of percentage of teachers at 46.7%. The percentage of private
institutions in the state was 31.5% in 2015-16. As per UDISE 40.4% (of the nearly 47 million) students are enrolled in
government institutions with 44.7% in private institutions.

2015-16 2021-22

The school system in Uttar Pradesh is still faced with challenges of qualified educators. The proportion of trained
teachers in the state was 87.59% for 2021-22 which is lower than the national average of 90.52% in upper primary
and 87.38% teachers in primary compared to the national average of 91.4%. The high student-teacher ratios that
exist in many educational institutions makes education a challenge. The pupil teacher ratio at secondary level is
at 27 (2022) much higher than the national average of 18%. The state has a target of a pupil teacher ratio less
than/ equal to 30 at 100% by 2030.
The dropout rate is still a cause of concern even though it is lower than the national average and especially among
female students. There is a gender gap in education and it could be because many households continue to believe
that they should invest more in their sons' education than their daughters'. While this seems to be the general
assumption a more serious analysis is required especially given the fact that most schools are today upgraded
with female toilets and drinking water facilities. However it sits odd with logic that while virtually all schools have
drinking water facilities around 13% government schools and similar percentage of private institutions do not
have hand wash facilities. 25% government schools lack electricity compared to 19% private institutions. The
impact on enrolment, particularly, female enrolment if any, needs to be understood further. The gross enrolment
ratio in higher secondary education, as per 2022 figures is just 50.7% while the adjusted net enrolment ratio is
56%. Only 50.14% of females are enrolled in higher education while the enrolment of girls in vocational education
is 62.09%. Also to note is that the enrolment of females in technical education is 10.86% and 22.69% in diploma
and degree sectors respectively indicating less than satisfactory female continuity overall post higher secondary.

The chart shows

the availability of
female toilets per
school category
(UDISE)

On the other hand, gender parity indices for primary education is 1.04; for secondary education it is 0.92, and 0.92
for higher secondary and 1.09 for tertiary education. In its simplest form, GPI is calculated as the quotient of the
number of females by the number of males enrolled in a given stage of education. A GPI value less than one is an
indication that gender parity favors males while a GPI value greater than one designates that gender parity is in
favor of females. Enrolment rates at all levels of education are higher for boys as per UDISE data which questions
the gender parity indice.

This graph shows

enrolment by level
and gender. (UDISE)
The average annual drop out rate at Class 9-10 is 9.70% (2022) which is better than the national average. For
secondary education the proportion of trained teachers was 88.37% (2021-2022) against the national average of
92.93%. For higher secondary it was 88.12% against 90.66% national average. Many children in Uttar Pradesh are
kept out of school to work, as child labour. One significant aspect is the state's poverty rate. Children from low-
income households typically have to work to help out with household expenses, which prevents them from
attending school.

Limited industry exposure seems an issue in education institutions in the state. Students need to be exposed to
real-world scenarios to develop the practical skills required to succeed in the industry. The percentage of females
enrolled in vocational education was 62.09% (2022) and only 10.86% in Diploma Sector under Tertiary education
with a much better rate of 22.69% under the Degree Sector. However, many higher studies institutions lack tie-
ups with industries or don't provide enough industrial training to their students. At times, these colleges and
universities teach from an outdated curriculum that is not relevant to the current industry demands. The
curriculum should be updated regularly to keep up with the changing industry trends and requirements. The gross
enrolment ratio for the tertiary sector (18-23 years age group) was 23.2 as compared to national average of 27.3.

Lack of quality infrastructure in universities and institutions including well equipped laboratories and updated
curriculum affect enrolment and practical skills of students.

Government initiatives to improve Schooling in Uttar Pradesh

The government of Uttar Pradesh has taken several initiatives to improve the quality of primary education in the
state. These include the following:

Nipun Bharat Mission:

The goal of the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (Nipun Bharat) is
for every child in the country to be able to read and count at a basic level by the end of Grade 3 (2026-2027). This
mission, which was started as part of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, focuses on giving
children access to school and retaining them in school during their first few years. It also keeps track of how each
child is doing in achieving learning outcomes, building the skills of teachers, and making sure that students and
teachers have access to a wide range of high-quality learning materials.

Operation Kayakalp
In June 2018, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, launched "Operation Kayakalp," which is one of India's largest
inter-departmental convergence programmes. Under this, the Central and State Governments have set aside
money to support initiatives like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, the Gram Panchayat Fund, the District Mineral
Fund, and several urban area funds, as well as the Jal Jeevan Mission, MNREGA, and other projects. The basic
infrastructure of upper primary schools is being upgraded.

Samekit Shiksha
Samekit Shiksha is a program launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in 2020 to provide inclusive education
to children with special needs or disabilities. The objectives of Samekit Shiksha are to improve the access of
children with special needs to education, enhance their learning outcomes, and promote a more inclusive and
equitable education system.

Samudayik Sahbhagita
The goal of the programme is to get local communities, parents, and civil society groups involved in building and
running schools and to make the state's education system more open and inclusive. In accordance with the Uttar
Pradesh Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Regulations, 2011, the 'School Management
Committee' consists of a minimum of fifteen people, eleven of whom are parents or guardians of students enrolled
at the school. It is required that at least fifty percent of those on the committee are women.
Girls' Education (Gender Equity)
Girls' Education (Gender Equity) is a big step that the government of Uttar Pradesh is taking to make sure that
boys and girls get the same education. The goal of the programme is to get more girls to go to school. There are
many actions being taken to make sure that the education, awareness, and empowerment of the girl child are
ensured. The Indian government started the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Yojana in 2004-05. This programme
is for girls from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Caste, and Minority communities who have dropped
out of school and come from families living below the poverty line in educationally backward development blocks.
These schools were made so that people who had never gone to school could get an education (from grades 6 to
8) and a place to live. In 2004-05, 746 Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Schools were set up in the state.

School Chalo Abhiyan

In the Indian Constitution, every child from 6 to 14 years old has the right to a free and compulsory education.
"School Chalo Abhiyan," a programme run by the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council was started with the
objective of motivating as many students in grades 1 through 8 to sign up for school.
SHARDA (School Har Din Aaye, "Come to school every day")

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2009 says that all boys and girls between the ages of
6 and 14 have the right to a free elementary education. If a child between the ages of 5 and 14 has not been
enrolled in school or has been enrolled but has not been able to finish elementary school, that child will be marked
and put in an age-appropriate class. In order to make it easier to find children, the Government of Uttar Pradesh
has defined an "out-of-school child" as a boy or girl between the ages of 6 and 14 who has never been to
elementary school, has never been enrolled, or has been absent from school for 45 days or more without providing
an explanation. Getting kids to go to school is the most important part of education. Without it, academic
responsibilities can't be met. Teachers can mark and register children at any time and on any day that they want
to. All kids between the ages of 5 and 14 who aren't in school will have to sign up if they live in the area served by
the school. All of the out-of-school children who come to the school will get special training based on their learning
level.

Government initiatives to improve higher education in Uttar Pradesh

RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Government of India
in 2013 with the aim of providing financial assistance to higher education institutions to improve their quality and
increase their access to higher education. The scheme is implemented in all states and Union Territories of India,
including Uttar Pradesh. Under the RUSA scheme, the central government provides financial assistance to eligible
institutions in the form of grants for infrastructure development, faculty recruitment, and academic and research
programs. The state governments are also required to contribute a certain amount of funds to the scheme.

The objectives of RUSA are:

1. To improve the overall quality of higher education in the country by focusing on institutional development
and reforms.
2. To promote equity in access to higher education by providing financial assistance to colleges and
universities in remote and disadvantaged areas.
3. To increase the employability of students by promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in higher
education.
4. To enhance research and innovation in higher education by encouraging collaboration between academic
institutions and industry.

In Uttar Pradesh, RUSA has supported several initiatives to improve higher education, such as:

1. Establishing new colleges and universities in underserved areas.

 2. Upgrading the infrastructure of existing institutions, including construction of new buildings, classrooms,
and laboratories.
3. Enhancing the quality of academic programs by recruiting new faculty members and providing training
and development opportunities for existing faculty.
4. Promoting research and innovation in higher education by providing grants for research projects and
establishing research centers.

o Scholarship programs: The government of Uttar Pradesh provides scholarships to students from
economically weaker sections of society to pursue higher education. The Sharda Program is one such
initiative that provides financial assistance to meritorious students to pursue professional courses.
o E-learning initiatives: The state government has launched several e-learning initiatives to promote digital
education and increase access to higher education for students in remote areas. The Uttar Pradesh
Rajarshi Tandon Open University is one such institution that offers online courses and degree programs.
o Skill development programs: The government of Uttar Pradesh has launched several skill development
programs to enhance the employability of students. These programs focus on providing practical training
and hands-on experience to students in various industries.
o National Research Professorship (NRP): The National Research Professorship (NRP) programme was
started by the government of India in 1949 as a way to honor academics and scholars who had made
important contributions to the field. As National Research Professors, people are looked at who are really
well-known, are at least 65 years old, have made great contributions to their fields, and are still able to
do good research.

Importance of improving the education system in Uttar Pradesh

Enhancing Uttar Pradesh's educational infrastructure is essential to the progress of the state as a whole. Education
is the foundation of development. The importance of investing in education has been mentioned below:

o The key to a flourishing economy lies in the hands of those who are educated. An improved educational
system will encourage the creation of a qualified working population, which in turn can increase
investment, generate new employment opportunities, and support economic growth.
o Education is crucial to the growth of our society as a whole and not just our economy. It has the potential
to aid in the fight against poverty, lessen inequality, and promote social justice.
o Education has the potential to empower individuals by offering them with the information and skills they
need to make ethical choices, engage in democratic processes, and improve their towns.
o A robust educational system can help the state compete internationally and attract companies that need
trained employees.

Future prospects of education in Uttar Pradesh

There is a lot of opportunity for progress and improvement in Uttar Pradesh's educational system. Many initiatives
have been launched by the central as well as state government to enhance the quality of education. In addition
to raising the ratio of trained instructors to students, modernizing facilities, and revising the syllabus, the state
government has taken several measures to resolve the issues facing the state's education system.