Source: BS
Context:
A government report from the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E) 2025, released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), has revealed a sharp decline in students attending government schools, especially at higher levels of schooling.
Key Findings:
- Rural Areas
- Higher secondary: Only 58.9% of students enrolled in government schools (down from 68% in 2017-18).
- Primary: 66.5% (down from 73.7%).
- Middle: 69.3% (down from 76.1%).
- Secondary: 65% (down from 68%).
- Urban Areas
- Higher secondary: 36.4% of students enrolled in government schools (down from 38.9% in 2017-18).
- Primary: 27.2% (down from 30.9%).
- Middle: 29.8% (down from 38%).
- Secondary: 35.8% (down from 38.9%).
- Pre-Primary (Anganwadi-linked rise)
- Rural: 65.6% (up from 44.2%).
- Urban: 24.1% (up from 13.9%).
Expenditure on Education:
- Rural Areas
- Government schools: ₹2,639 per student annually.
- Private schools: ₹19,554 per student annually.
- Urban Areas
- Government schools: ₹4,128 per student annually.
- Private schools: ₹31,782 per student annually.
Shadow Schooling / Private Coaching:
- Overall: 27% of students take private coaching.
- Rural: 25.5% students, spending ₹1,793 annually (₹4,548 at higher secondary).
- Urban: 30.7% students, spending ₹3,988 annually (₹9,950 at higher secondary).
About CMS: Education (2025)
- Conducted by: National Statistical Office (NSO).
- Period: April–June 2025 (80th NSS round).
- Coverage: 2,384 villages, 1,982 urban blocks, 52,085 households, and 221,617 students.
- Focus: Only school education (unlike earlier NSS surveys that covered all levels).
- Commissioned by: Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL).
