Impact-of-Net-Enrolment-Ratio-NER-at-School-Level-on-Higher-Education-in-India


Impact-of-Net-Enrolment-Ratio-NER-at-School-Level-on-Higher-Education-in-India

 

Impact of Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at School Level on Higher Education in India


Introduction

India’s push for educational equity depends on a strong link between school years and higher learning. The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) measures how many children of the right age are actually in school at each stage, while Transition Rates (TR) and Retention Rates (RR) show if they’re moving forward and sticking with it. These numbers are key to hitting the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s goal of 50% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education by 2035. Using fresh data from UDISE+ 2024-25 (existing structure), this article gives a national snapshot of these indicators. It builds on our earlier look at NER’s role in tertiary access and draws from Prof. Arun C. Mehta’s sharp take in “Fifty Percent GER at Higher Education Level by 2035: Is It Possible?“, stressing that school success is the real foundation for higher ed growth.

State-specific Enrolment Ratios Existing Structure UDISEPlus 2024-25

Key Metrics at a Glance: All India Overview for 2024-25

UDISE+ 2024-25 highlights some steps forward but also stubborn roadblocks. The table pulls together the national higher education GER (from AISHE 2021-22, as 2024-25 isn’t out yet) with school Net Enrolment Ratio, Transition Rate (stage-to-stage shifts), and Retention Rate (retaining capacity per level). Figures are totals across genders for simplicity, capturing the big picture.

Metric Primary (Classes I-V) Upper Primary (VI-VIII) Secondary (IX-X) Higher Secondary (XI-XII) Higher Education (Ages 18-23) GER
Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) 76.4% 67.3% 47.5% 35.8% –
Transition Rate (TR) 92.2% (to Upper Primary) 86.6% (to Secondary) 75.1% (to Higher Secondary) N/A –
Retention Rate (RR) 92.4% N/A (Elementary: 82.8%) 62.9% (I-X) 47.2% (I-XII) –
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER, Higher Education) 24.6 (2017-18) 24.9 (2018-19) 25.6 (2019-20) 27.3 (2020-21) 28.4 (2021-22)

Notes: NER tracks exact-age kids enrolled; TR shows smooth moves between levels; RR is about finishing what they start. Elementary RR (I-VIII) is 82.8%; Secondary RR (I-X) is 62.9%. Higher ed GER has climbed 4.7 points since 2014-15. Foundational stats skip standalone pre-primary spots.

This setup reveals solid starts in primary fading out higher up, creating a squeeze that limits who makes it to college.

Decoding School-Level Dynamics (2024-25)


Net Enrolment Ratio (NER): Measuring Real Reach

Primary NER hits 76.4%, thanks to the Right to Education Act pushing basic access. It holds at 67.3% for upper primary, with elementary (I-VIII) at 82.8% showing decent early hold. But secondary drops to 47.5%, and higher secondary to 35.8%, where money issues and school shortages kick in hard. States vary wildly: Kerala and Tamil Nadu top 70% at secondary, but Bihar and Uttar Pradesh dip under 35%. As we’ve noted on educationforallinindia.com, these gaps create a “leaky bucket” effect, shrinking the group ready for higher studies.

Transition Rates (TR): From One Step to the Next

Early jumps are strong – 92.2% from primary to upper primary, helped by meals and nearby schools. Upper primary to secondary is 86.6%, boosted by Samagra Shiksha upgrades. But secondary to higher secondary falls to 75.1%, hit by family pressures or cultural hurdles. Small yearly gains (like 1.2% up in upper to secondary) prove policies work, yet the 24.9% secondary dropout average calls for quicker fixes.

Retention Rates (RR): Keeping Them In

Primary holds at 92.4%, easing to 82.8% for elementary with better setups like digital tools. Secondary (I-X) is 62.9%, and higher secondary (I-XII) 47.2%, where dropouts at secondary level sit at 11.5% (better than last year’s 914.1%), often due to jobs or home duties. Girls edge out boys by 2.5% in secondary retention, credit to programs like  KGBVs, but rural areas still lag.

Interlinkages: From School NER to Higher Education GER

Strong schools feed higher education Today’s (2021-22) 28.4% higher GER covering 4.3 crore students – relies on secondary finishers, but with secondary NER at 47.5% and higher secondary Retention Rate at 47.2%, the flow is weak. States like Himachal Pradesh (secondary NER around 40.9%, higher GER near 45%) show the tie-in, based on AISHE data. Prof. Mehta warns that without 90%+ secondary transitions, chasing 50% GER means an unrealistic 80% yearly jump – only possible with school tweaks.

Girls’ trends offer promise: Their secondary NER (48.6%) beats boys’ (46.6%), matching faster female higher GER (29.1% vs. 27.7%). For Scheduled Castes, secondary GER near 82% (from UDISE+ breakdowns) highlights NEP’s equity push. On the economy side, good school retention lifts college entry by 18-22%, per NITI Aayog, tapping India’s young population for growth.

Challenges persist: 22% of secondary schools lack labs, teacher ratios at 24:1. Digital gaps – broadband in 68% schools – hit rural kids harder, and weather events spike dropouts in tough spots.

Pathways Forward: Policy Imperatives

To strengthen the school-higher ed bridge:

  • Boost Upper Levels: Ramp up Samagra Shiksha’s ₹1.48 lakh crore for skills training and aid, aiming for 85% secondary NER by 2030.
  • Hold Onto Students: Use ASER-style community checks and mental health help to cut 7.8% dropouts.
  • Ease Transitions: Set up one-stop counselling and credit links for easy college steps.
  • Data for Fairness: Tap UDISE+ for focused boosts to SC/ST and girls in weak districts.

This fits NEP’s all-in approach, weaving in broad skills from secondary on.

Concluding Observations

UDISE+ 2024-25 reveals primary NER at 76.4% and upper-to-secondary transitions at 86.6%, yet higher secondary NER of 35.8% raises alarms. At this level, India may miss the 50% higher ed GER target by 2035, since admissions require higher secondary graduates. Without improving school efficiency via enhanced retention and access, NEP 2020’s goals cannot be realized.

Suggested Readings

For more on UDISE+ breakdowns and Prof. Mehta’s work, head to educationforallinindia.com.