Lok Sabha Question No. 125 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Shortfall in School and College Enrolment in Andhra Pradesh
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 125

## ANSWERED ON - 09/02/2026

## Shortfall in School and College Enrolment in Andhra Pradesh

*125. Shri P V Midhun Reddy: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  reported  shortfall  of  2,66,860 students in schools and junior colleges enrolment in Andhra Pradesh for 2025-26; (b)  if  so,  the  details  of  Central  support  such  as  data-cleaning,  tracking  out-of-school children and Aadhaar/UDISE linkage that has been offered to the State and if not, the reasons therefor; (c)  whether  the  Government  has  adopted  any  specific  criteria  to  trigger  special corrective action in States/UTs with sudden enrolment drops, if so, the details thereof; and (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. ****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 125 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 ASKED BY HON'BLE MP  SHRI  P  V  MIDHUN  REDDY  REGARDING  'SHORTFALL  IN  SCHOOL  AND COLLEGE ENROLMENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH' (a): As per latest UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) report of  2024-25,  total  enrolment  of  students  in  Andhra  Pradesh  from  Pre-Primary  to Class 12 was 84,54,817. As per UDISE+ provisional data for 2025-26, total enrolment of students in Andhra Pradesh from Pre-Primary to Class-12 is 84,35,128. (b): In compliance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with effect from 202223,  UDISE+ application  has  been  revitalized  to  capture  individual  student-wise  data (including Aadhaar Number on voluntary basis) for creating student registry and tracking of children. Support under Samagra Shiksha is provided for identification of children above six years of age who have not been admitted in any school or though admitted, could not complete elementary education, for admission into age-appropriate class. Further, special training facility is provided to such Out of School Children (OoSC) to integrate academically  and  emotionally  with  the  rest  of  the  class.  For  this  purpose,  financial support up to Rs.6,000/- per child per annum for non-residential courses and up to Rs. 20,000/- per child per annum for residential courses is provided. (c)  &  (d):    Government  of  India  is  implementing  Samagra  Shiksha,  an  overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-primary to Class-XII. Samagra Shiksha aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education, across the country. Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for improving school infrastructure, universal access, bringing gender equity, promoting teacher education institutions, vocational education, entitlements under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, etc. Some of the major interventions under inclusive education, quality education, digital initiatives, strengthening Samagra Shiksha are as follows: -

- a.  Upgradation and improvement of school infrastructure including classrooms, basic facilities, sanitation, safe and clean environment making government schools more attractive.
- b.  Support for providing school uniforms, and text books.
- c. Support for pre-primary class in government schools to help children get into formal school system from early age, increasing overall enrollment.
- d.  Identifying Out of School Children (OoSC) and giving support for continuing their education in age-appropriate class.
- e.  Support  for  Smart  classrooms,  digital  boards,  ICT  labs,  virtual  classrooms  to modernize government schools.
- f. Support for transport facilities to provide access to school.
- g.  Additional support for Children with Special Needs (CwSN).
- h.  Support  for  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas  (KGBVs),  and  Netaji  Subhas Chandra  Bose  Awasiya  Vidyalaya  (NSCBAV)  for  marginal  /  weaker  sections  to continue education in a safe residential / school facility up to higher classes.
- i. Construction of hostels for PVTGs (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) under PMJANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), and construction of  hostels  under  Dharti  Aaba  Janjatiya  Gram  Utkarsh  Abhiyan  (DAJGUA)  for unsaturated ST population.
- j. Support for strengthening teacher education institutions.

States /UTs are encouraged to undertake enrolment drives, door-to-door campaigns,  community  mobilization,  etc.,  to  increase  enrollment  of  students  in Government schools. Government of India is also implementing PM POSHAN scheme (Mid-Day Meal) to provide  nutritious  hot  cooked  meals  in  government  and  aided  schools  to  facilitate increase in enrolment, retention and attendance.

State Government of Andhra Pradesh has also informed that SMS alerts are sent to parents when students remain absent for more than three consecutive days. Further, in cases where a student is absent for over a week, concerned Welfare and Education Official  at  the  Gram  Panchayat  level  visits  the  student's  residence  to  ascertain  the reasons for absence and ensure their return to school.

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