Srinagar, Feb 15: The decrease in student enrollment in government at the elementary level has thrown up a major challenge for the School Education Department (SED), which has failed to improve enrollment in schools despite several interventions.
The government schools at the elementary and secondary levels have seen a dip in student enrollment, contradicting the tall claims of the department for increasing the student population in the schools every year.
The official figures have revealed that the drives carried out in schools during 2023-24 and 2024-25 did not improve the overall student enrollment in schools.
As per the official statistics, the student enrollment in government schools at the primary level (classes 1st to 5th) was 529708 in 2023-24, which, however, decreased to 503628 in 2024-25. The student enrollment has decreased by 26080 students, even when the government claimed to have improved the student enrollment in schools.
Similarly, the student enrollment at Upper Primary School level was 287167 in 2023-24, which, however, decreased to 283735 in 2024-25.
In one year, the schools across J&K witnessed a decrease of 3432 students, exposing the government’s hollow claims. The enrollment of students decreased in schools when the government shifted the academic session of Kashmir schools from November to March, to sync it with the national academic calendar.
Also, the student enrollment has decreased at the secondary level as pointed out in the official figures.
The student enrollment at the secondary level was 200355 in 2023-24, which, however, decreased to 196095 in 2024-25. In one year, there was a decrease by 4260 students at secondary level.
The department has, however, claimed that several initiatives were taken to bring the children to the school and to ensure 100 enrollment at primary level.
Contrary to the actual position. The official document claims that enrollment drives were conducted across J&K every year to boost enrollment in schools.
“Identification of out-of-school children is done through door-to-door survey and their mainstreaming is done through direct enrolment,” the official document reads.
