Out of school children

There were about 4.4 cr. out of school children in the 6-14 age group in 2001. This constituted 28.5% of the total child population in this age group. During the 10th Plan period the number of out of school children as reported by States and UTs has reduced significantly as follows

Two independent surveys during 2005 indicate that about 93% children are enrolled in schools / alternative education facilities. An independent national sample survey conducted by SRI-IMRB in 2005 estimated that about 1.34 cr. children in the 6-14 year age group are out of school (6.94%)

In rural areas 7.80% children are out of school against 4.34% in urban areas.

The proportion of children out of school is relatively higher among those in the age
category 11-13 years (8.56%) compared to those in the 6-10 years age category (6.1%).

Percentages of out of school boys and girls in the age group 6-10 years, are 5.51% and
6.87% respectively. For the age group 11-13 years, the percentage of out of school children
is relatively higher among girls (10.03%) than boys (6.46%).

Amongst social groups, 9.97% muslim, 9.54% of ST, 8.17% SC and 6.9% of OBC children
are out of school.

Among all social groups, the estimated percentage of children out of school is higher in
rural than in urban areas.

Among those who have reported attending school, an overwhelming 84.2% are attending
Government schools; followed by 13.3% estimated attending Private recognised schools.

69% of the children out of school are in Bihar (23.6%), U.P. (22.2%), West Bengal (9%),
M.P.(8%) and Rajastjan (5.9%).

Bihar (31.76 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (29.95 lakh), West Bengal (12.13 lakh), Madhya
Pradesh (10.85 lakh) and Rajasthan (7.95 lakh) have been highest number of out of school
children.

During 2004-05 there were 76 districts with more than 50,000 out of school children.
During 2005-06 a number of such districts dropped to 48. Of these 19 were in Bihar, 15 in
U.P., 5 in West Bengal, 2 each in Assam & Chhattisgarh, 1 each in AP, Haryana, Maharashtra, M.P. & Tripura. The States and UTs reported only 29 districts with more than 50,000 out of school children at the beginning of 2006-07. A country-wide Household Survey has been planned during 2006.

It is true that many States have conducted school enrolment drives and teachers have
entered the names of all eligible children in the school registers. Some of these children may
not be attending schools and therefore can only be called ‘nominally enrolled’. Thus the actual
number of children actually attending school may be lower than the number projected by the
States and UTs and even the SRI-IMRB study. However the NCERT Surveys of learners
achievements have indicated that approximately 90% students were attending schools more
than 70% of working days and less than 4% students were attending schools less than 60%
of the total working days. Government of India has commissioned a national sample survey of
student attendance rates.

The calculation of number of out of school children from the figures of projected child
population and the enrolment (Selected Educational Statistics of MHRD or DISE) at primary
and upper primary stages result in a figure much higher than the estimate of 1.34 cr. children.

A major part of the explanation could be in the fact that complete data for private schools is
not captured under DISE or SES

How many number of children are out of school ?
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