Economic Survey 2006-07

There has been an impressive growth secondary and higher education with the total enrolment touching 30 percent with a significant rise in the enrolment of women students, says the Economic Survey 2006-07.The survey, tabled in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, said in the higher education sector, there has been an increase in annual student enrolment from 7.26 million in 1997-98 to 10.48 million in 2004-05.The number of women students rose from 2.45 million in 1997 to 4.04 million in 2004-05, constituting 40.4 percent of the total enrolment.The survey added that the number of secondary and higher secondary schools have increased from 7,416 in 1950-51 to 152,049 in 2004-05. The corresponding increase in total enrolment has been from 1.5 million in 1950-51 to 37 million in 2004-05.It further said that the national literacy mission, which looks after adult education (15-35 age group), is trying to achieve a sustainable threshold literacy rate of 75 percent by the end of 2007.At present 101 districts are implementing the total literacy campaign, 171 districts running post-literacy programmes and 325 districts continuing education programmes for the above age group.However, the survey expressed concern that the gross enrolment ratio for 14-16 age group was 51.55 percent as of Sep 30, 2004. Of the 16-18 age group (Class 11 and 12) it was 27.82 percent.