The Lieutenant-Governor’s office on Monday shot off a letter to Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar over the Economic Survey 2021–2022, which stated that there was a fall in enrollment and rise in absenteeism in city Government schools, despite increase in expenditure on Education from `6,145.03 crore in 2014-15 to `11,081. 09 crore in 2019-20.
Raj Niwas also directed the Chief Secretary to examine the reasons for the anomaly in larger public interest and put up a note to this effect for L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena’s scrutiny.
According to the letter written by Anikita Mishra Bundela, Secretary to the L-G, as per data published in the Economic Survey 2021-22 of Delhi Government, the expenditure on school education by the State Government increased from `6,145.03 crore in 2014-15 to `11,081.09 crore in 2019-20.
Consequently the per student per annum expenditure incurred by the city Government on education increased from `42,806 in 2015-16 to `66,593 in 2019-20.
“Despite substantial increase in the investment in the Education Sector by the State Government both in absolute terms and as part of the total budget, it is seen that during the same period, the enrollment in Delhi Government, schools declined from 15.42 lakh in 2014-15 to 15.19 lakh 2019-20,” it read.
“As per information provided by the Directorate of Education, the percentage of students attending classes in Delhi government schools has been declining and the percentage of attendance in Delhi Government schools was in the range of 55 per cent- 61 per cent between 2016-17 to 2019-20 which indicates high absenteeism in the range of approximately six lakh children not attending schools regularly,” it said.
“LG has observed with concern that the decline in enrolment of students in Delhi government schools and significant absenteeism of students from the schools despite high investment made by the government in improving school infrastructure and teaching and learning processes,” the letter read.
“LG has accordingly desired that the reasons for the anomaly may be examined in larger public interest and a note to this effect to be forwarded to this office for his perusal,” the letter further stated. “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have a lot to answer and explain that is this the ‘Education Model’ that is being touted as ‘best’,” said sources.
As per the economic survey data, the enrollment in the government schools in academic session 2014-2015 was 15.12 lakhs, while in 2015-2016 it was 15.09 lakhs. In 2016-17 the students enrolment stood at 15.28 laksh, while in 2017-18 it was reported 14.81 lakhs.
“In 2018-2019, the students enrollment had touched to 14.98 lakhs and in 2019-2020 it reached to 15.19 lakhs,” survey data stated.
However, the budget of the education department saw an upward trend each year. “In academic session 2014-2015 the budget was Rs 614503 lakhs, while in 2015-2016 it was Rs 717857 lakhs. In 2016-17 the budget stood at Rs 856185 lakhs, while in 2017-18 the allotted budget was Rs 920877 lakhs.
“In 2018-2019, the budget touched Rs 983751 lakhs, while in 2019-2020 it significantly increased to Rs 1108109 lakhs,” the data read.
The cost per student studying in the state government schools also saw a J curve trend every year from 2014. “In academic session 2014-2015 the cost per student was Rs 36041, while in 2015-2016 it was Rs 42806. In 2016-17 the cost stood at Rs 50812, while in 2017-18 it was Rs 56200,” survey data read.
“In 2018-2019, the cost rose to Rs 59730, while in 2019-2020 cost drastically increased to Rs 66593,” the data read.