According to a newly released Census data, population of students in India drastically increased by 38% in the decade 2001 to 2011.
The data shows that, the population of students rose from about 229 million in 2001 to 315 million in 2011. This is a tremendous growth if compared with the overall population grown in the same period, which was about 18%.
64% increase in the age group 15-19
Students in the age group 15 to 19 years increased by a dramatic 64% in the decade i.e. from 44 million to over 76 million. This age group comprises of the students studying in senior secondary levels and at the post-school higher education levels.
The reason behind this drastic increase in student populations is regarded as the growth in higher classes and increase in the number of women students.
Opportunities and Challenges
The dramatic rise in the number of students in India shows the rising awareness towards education. Now, education is regarded as a sure path towards economic well-being. Increasing number of students will definitely contribute to the rising Indian economy.
However, the situation has also brought with it a new challenge – employment generation. The question that the government and policy makers has to tackle is that how to give suitable jobs to all these educated people.
Bad Side
The new Census data also reveals the bad side of this student growth. About one in 5 of all seven-year-old children in the country had not yet entered school – i.e. about 4.8 million kids.
By age 13, this proportion had come down to about 7% of that age – i.e. about 1.6 million children had still never entered school.
