State-Wise Analysis of SDG 4: Education Indicators in India (2023-24)
Findings of SDG 2023-24 Report by NITI Aayog, Government of India
Introduction
The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 to address global challenges, with SDG 4 focusing on “ensuring inclusive & equitable quality education & promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.” The SDG India Index, developed by NITI Aayog, tracks the country’s progress towards these goals. The SDG India Index 2023-24 evaluates states and union territories based on 12 key indicators under Goal 4: Education.
SDG 4: Education in India – Empowering the Nation’s Future 2023
Recent Initiatives (SDG, SEQI, EDI & PGI)
This article presents a state-wise analysis of each indicator, explaining its meaning, significance, weightage in the SDG Index, data recency, and state performance. A comparison with the 2022-23 report is also briefly included.
PIB Press Release on SEG Report 2023-24 by NITI Aayog
SDG4 Education Report 2023-24 NITI Aayog, Government of India
Analysis of Indicators under SDG 4: Education
1. Adjusted Net Enrolment Ratio (ANER) in Elementary Education (Classes I-VIII)
- Meaning: Measures the percentage of children (ages 6-13) enrolled in elementary education, adjusted for over-aged and under-aged students.
- Implications: High ANER signifies adequate access to elementary education and inclusivity.
- Weightage in Index: High, as it reflects accessibility to foundational education.
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22 (needs updating to ensure recent figures).
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh (Near 100% enrolment)
- Lagging States: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (Lower than national average)
2. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Secondary Education (Classes IX-X)
- Meaning: Total enrolment in secondary education as a percentage of the population aged 14-15.
- Implications: High GER indicates wider access, though it may include over/under-aged students.
- Weightage in Index: Moderate, reflecting secondary education system inclusivity.
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Tamil Nadu (GER >100%)
- Lagging States: Jharkhand, Bihar (Below national average)
3. Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in Higher Secondary Education (Classes XI-XII)
- Meaning: Total enrolment in higher secondary education as a percentage of 16-17-year-olds.
- Implications: Indicates transition from secondary to higher secondary education.
- Weightage in Index: Moderate.
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Goa (High GER)
- Lagging States: Assam, Odisha (Needs attention to improve transition rates)
4. Percentage of Students Achieving Minimum Proficiency in Language and Mathematics (NAS Survey)
- Meaning: Percentage of students in Grades 3, 5, and 8 meeting basic learning standards.
- Implications: Indicates education quality.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: NAS 2021 (needs more recent data).
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Punjab, Haryana
- Lagging States: Meghalaya, Nagaland
5. Transition Rate from Upper Primary to Secondary Education
- Meaning: Percentage of students progressing from Class VIII to IX.
- Implications: Reflects retention and continuity in education.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra
- Lagging States: Odisha, Assam
6. Pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) at Elementary and Secondary Levels
- Meaning: Average number of students per teacher.
- Implications: Lower PTR indicates better teaching quality.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Karnataka
- Lagging States: Bihar, Jharkhand
7. Percentage of Schools with Access to Electricity and Drinking Water
- Meaning: Measures availability of essential infrastructure.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- Best Performers: Gujarat, Punjab
- Lagging States: Odisha, Chhattisgarh
8. Gender Parity Index (GPI) in School Education
- Meaning: Ratio of female to male enrolment.
- Implications: Measures gender equality in education.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh
- Lagging States: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
9. Out-of-School Children (Ages 6-17)
- Meaning: Percentage of children not attending school.
- Implications: A high percentage suggests dropout or non-enrolment.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- State Performance:
- Best Performers: Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- Lagging States: Bihar, Jharkhand
10. Schools with Functional Toilets
- Meaning: Availability of separate and functional toilets for students.
- Implications: Affects hygiene, particularly for female students.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- Best Performers: Punjab, Gujarat
- Lagging States: Odisha, Chhattisgarh
11. Availability of Computers and Internet in Schools
- Meaning: Percentage of schools with digital learning infrastructure.
- Implications: Affects digital education and online learning opportunities.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- Best Performers: Delhi, Karnataka
- Lagging States: Bihar, Jharkhand
12. Vocational Education Participation Rate
- Meaning: Percentage of students enrolled in vocational courses.
- Implications: Strengthens skill-based education and employability.
- Weightage in Index:
- Data Recency: UDISEPlus 2021-22.
- Best Performers: Kerala, Maharashtra
- Lagging States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
State-Wise Education Index Rankings (2023-24)
- Top Performers: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra
- States Needing Urgent Attention: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan
Comparison with SDG India Index 2022-23
- Improvements: Increased enrolment, better transition rates, and digital adoption.
- Challenges: Outdated data, dropout concerns, digital divide.
State-Wise Education Index Rankings (2023-24)
The SDG 4: Education Index 2023-24 ranks states based on overall performance across all indicators. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu continue to lead with strong education infrastructure and learning outcomes. Maharashtra and Punjab have also shown improvements. However, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha rank lower due to challenges in enrolment, transition rates, and infrastructure. These states are crucial to attain the status of school education by 2030.
Comparison with Previous Years
- Kerala and Himachal Pradesh have consistently maintained top ranks.
- Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have improved their rankings due to better transition rates and GER.
- Bihar and Uttar Pradesh remain among the lower-performing states, with minimal improvement from 2022-23.
- Gujarat and Karnataka have slightly improved due to enhanced school infrastructure and enrolment.
Comparison with SDG India Index 2022-23
- Improvements: Increased enrolment, better transition rates, and digital adoption.
- Challenges: Outdated data, dropout concerns, digital divide.
Concluding Observations
The SDG 4 Education Index in India highlights significant improvements in school infrastructure, enrolment rates, and transition levels. However, data deficiencies and outdated sources remain a challenge. Most indicators in 2023-24 were also used in previous years, and many rely on UDISEPlus 2021-22 or NAS 2021, making it challenging to assess recent developments.
Key Concerns
- Outdated Data: Learning outcomes (NAS 2021) and higher education gender parity (AISHE 2020-21) must be updated.
- Inconsistent Year Usage: Some indicators use data from different years, making comparisons difficult.
- Regional Disparities: While Southern and Western states perform well, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha continue to lag in multiple indicators.
- Digital Divide: Rural schools lack computers and the internet, affecting digital education adoption.
Recommendations
- Update Data Sources: Use the latest UDISEPlus, NAS, and AISHE
- Strengthen Vocational & Digital Education: Expand computer access and job-oriented training.
- Enhance Learning Outcomes: Implement post-pandemic recovery programs.
India is progressing toward SDG 4, but regional disparities and outdated data limit accurate policy formulation. A data-driven, targeted approach is necessary to ensure inclusive & quality education for all by 2030. It is hoped that with the introduction of SDMIS as a part of UDISEPlus, the time lag in educational data will be significantly reduced in the following years.
