Lok Sabha Question No. 36 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: UNESCO Report on Private Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Jugal Kishore

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-36

ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## UNESCO Report on Private Schools

†36. Shri Jugal Kishore:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that seven out of every ten new schools established in the country during the last eight years are private independent schools according to a UNESCO report, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is fact that there is a huge increase in the tuition fees of these schools;
- (c) if so, the manner in which the target of providing good quality education to all would be achieved; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to increase the ratio of Government schools equipped with qualitative basic infrastructure ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) and  (b):  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  (DoSEL),  Ministry  of  Education  has developed the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) system to record data on  indicators  of  school  education  provided  by  all  the  States  and  Union  Territories.  As  per  UDISE+ 2023-24, number of Private Unaided schools established in the country from the year 2019-20 to 202324 are 24403 out of 33869. The government schools in the country are more than 69%.

Further,  education  is  in  the  Concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  the  opening,  closing  and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and UT Administration.  Therefore,  matters  relating  to  fees  charged  by  private  schools  and  related  issues  are regulated in terms of Rules and Instructions of the respective State Government concerned.

However, under the  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009,  every child, of the age of six to fourteen years, has a right to free and compulsory elementary education in a neighbourhood school. Section 12(1) (c) of the RTE Act, 2009 mandates reservation in private unaided schools for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups to the extent of at least 25% seats at  entry level and provision of free and compulsory elementary education to such children till its completion. Also, Section 13 of the RTE Act, 2009 clearly prohibits the collection of any capitation fee.

- (c)  and  (d):  Central  Government  assist  States  and  UTs  through  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of Samagra Shiksha. Financial assistance is also provided to the States and UTs for various activities to reduce dropout and increase enrolment in Government schools, which include opening/strengthening of new schools up to senior secondary level, strengthening school infrastructure, setting up, up gradation and  running  of  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas  (KGBV)  upto  class  12,  setting  up  of  residential schools/hostel named Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, transport allowance, undertaking enrolment drives, seasonal hostels/residential camps, provision of vocational education and ICT  facilities  in  schools,  providing  free  text  books  and  free  uniform,  transport/escort  facility,  etc, financial assistance is also provided for aids and appliances for children with special needs.

Under the PM SHRI scheme, there is a provision of setting up of more than 14500 PM SHRI Schools by strengthening  the  existing  schools  from  amongst  schools  managed  by  Central  Government/State/UT Government/local bodies. Selection of PM SHRI schools is through Challenge Mode wherein Schools compete for support to become exemplar schools.

The PM SHRI scheme aims to enhance educational quality, infrastructure, and student outcomes in PM SHRI schools. Activities such as Learning Enrichment Programs (LEP) focus on remedial teaching for students in classes 6-12, ensuring that all learners meet the required competency levels. Regular teacher capacity-building programs, including training of Principals, teachers, and special educators, are to be conducted to enhance pedagogical skills. Competency-based assessments and the introduction of holistic report  cards  ensure  a  well-rounded  evaluation  of  students.  Programs  like  the  Rashtriya  Aavishkar Abhiyan  encourage  innovative  teaching  through  science  and  math  circles,  mentoring  by  eminent experts, and exposure visits to inspire interest in STEM education.

To  enhance  infrastructure,  PM  SHRI  Schools  has  a  provision  of  science  labs,  ICT-enabled  smart classrooms, library, furniture and playground. Further, Atal Tinkering Labs, and digital learning tools like smart boards supporting modern, technology-driven education. Efforts like the introduction of LED lighting, composting facilities, and medicinal gardens create eco-friendly "green schools."

To  improve  the  quality  of  curriculum,  infrastructure  and  assessment,  CBSE  has  developed  School Quality  Assessment  and  Assurance  Framework  (SQAAF).  SQAAF is  a  set  of  standards  and  best practices as paradigms for attaining individual and institutional excellence

******