Lok Sabha Question No. 688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Out of Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH  FEBRUARY, 2017

## Out of Schools

688. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that freshly released census 2011 data has revealed that a large number of children do not go to school at all in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also true that many Indian children are forced to earn a livelihood even as they attend schools and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is true that the increasing cost of education is one of the reasons for the piling number of students who do not go to school; and
- (d)  if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  free  education  is provided to such students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

- (a):  Census 2011 has reported that 8.4 crore children do not go to school in the age group of 5 - 17 years. However, under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  the  mandated  age  group  for  free  and  compulsory elementary education in a neighbourhood school is 6-14 years. According to Census 2011, the number of children who do not attend schools (including never attended and attended before) in the age group of 6-13 years are 3.81 crore. Census 2011 has shown a marked decline in the number of out of school children in this age group from 5.8 crore in 2001 to 3.8 crore in 2011, a 35% decline over a period of ten years. The  States  and  UTs  in  their  Annual  Work  Plan  &  Budget,  2016-17  under  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have reported a total of 14.2 lakh children as out of school at the elementary level of schooling as on 31.03.2016.

(b): As per the Census 2011, there are 78 lakh working children in the age group of 5-17 years. However, the number of working children in the age group of 5-14 years has  reduced  from  126.6  lakh  in  2001  to  43.5  lakh  in  201,  a  65%  decline  over  a period of ten years.

As  per  an  independent  survey  commissioned  in  2014  by  the  Ministry  of  Human Resource Development, 60.64 lakh children were estimated to be out of school in the age group of 6-13 years. The number of out of school children has declined from 134.59 lakh in 2005 to 60.64 lakh in 2014 in the same age group.

(c)  &  (d):  The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA) provides assistance to State Governments and UTs to ensure free and compulsory quality elementary education for all children. Universal enrolment is the first goal of SSA, and hence all efforts are being made to bring all children in schools. SSA has provided  2.04  lakh  primary  and  1.59  lakh  upper  primary  schools  for  ensuring universal  provisioning  of  schooling  facilities.  Preference  for  opening  of  school  is given  to  tribal  areas,  and  areas  with  high  concentration  of  Scheduled  Caste, Scheduled Tribe and minority population. In addition, 3609 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, which are residential schools for girls at upper primary level, have also been sanctioned to the States for improving access to marginalised girls particularly out of school, either drop out or never enrolled. As per Unified District Information System for Education 2015-16 (provisional), the number of total children enrolled at elementary  level  has  increased  from  15.1  crores  in  1998-99  to  19.67  crore  at present.

Under  SSA,  provisions  have  also  been  made  for  residential  schools/hostels  and transportation/escort facility for children living in sparsely populated areas, children living  in  areas  where  schools  cannot  be  opened  due  to  unavailability  of  land  and children in need of care and protection. Special training is also provided to all such children who are school dropouts and long absentees and they are enrolled in 'back to school' camps.

Additionally,  other  strategies  adopted  under  SSA  such  as  strengthening  school infrastructure, improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible category of children and mid-day meal in schools have proved to be useful in increasing the enrolment of children in elementary schools.

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To further work on this issue and in pursuance of a resolution adopted in the 63 Meeting  of  the  Central  Advisory  Board  of  Education  (CABE)  held  on  19 th August, 2015 under the Chairpersonship of Hon'ble Minister of Human Resource Development, a Sub-Committee of CABE under Chairpersonship of Minister of State for Human Resource Development has been constituted to 'Devise Pathway for ReEngaging Out of School Children' vide Order dated 06.11.2015.

It may also be noted that since enactment of the RTE Act, 2009, a renewed focus by all States and UTs was given to ensure that every child of the age of 6-14 years is enrolled in schools. Therefore, it is expected that the decline in out of school children would have been faster after 2011.

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