Education in India: Why Enrolment Alone Isn’t Enough

What is the point of sending a child to school for years if they still struggle to read a simple paragraph or do basic maths? I think this is a question we need to ask when we discuss education in India. It is important to increase enrolments and get children into classrooms but it is a responsibility to ensure that students learn.

Learning Outcomes in Rural India

There has been progress in this field, and we should acknowledge it. ASER 2024 found that 98.1% of rural children aged 6–14 were enrolled in school. The report also recorded improvements in learning compared with 2022. These improvements give us something to build on.

However, the same report also mentions that only 44.8% of Class V rural government-school students could read a Class II-level text. This is an improvement from 38.5% in 2022, but it still leaves a serious concern. Think of it like this - a child who struggles to read will also struggle to understand questions, follow textbooks and learn other subjects. Teachers need to address these gaps early, before children struggle with more advanced lessons. We need to focus on effective learning rather than focusing on syllabus completion and considering it as duty done.

Single-Teacher Schools in India

We need to look closely at the conditions in which children learn and teachers teach. Teachers need enough time, training and support to identify where each child needs help. However, UDISE+ reported over one lakh single-teacher schools in 2025–26. This number had declined from the previous year, but it is still concerning. Ask yourself - how much individual attention can one teacher provide while managing an entire school? This is not an ideal situation and must be addressed as a priority. Because it feels to me like only the process of students enrolment, attendance or overall school management is going on and students are hardly getting enough attention from teacher.

Governments should fill vacancies and employ teachers according to schools’ needs promptly. Governments should also protect classroom time when assigning election, census or other duties to teachers. Governments must give teachers the time and resources to do their jobs well.

Further, schools also need dependable infrastructure. Government schools should provide basic facilities like safe classrooms, clean toilets, drinking water, books and usable learning materials. Knowing that there is no compromise with basic expectations will be helpful for parents to send their children to a government school with confidence.

Closing or Merging a School

I think before merging or closing schools, officials should assess travel distances and children’s access to education. If state governments begin to close or merge schools for just cost cutting in the disguise of a fancy-named scheme/ operation then this could lead to low enrolments, attendance and poor learning & development of children.

Central government should put in force a law that requires state governments to take approval from the Ministry of Education for school merger and closure. The law should enforce rules like proper research and data collection about how a school merger/ closure may impact students and parents around the school. This data must be submitted by the state government to Ministry of Education for analysis and approval.

Education Funding in India

Funding matters here. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets a target of public education expenditure reaching 6% of GDP (2nd paragraph - Page 61).

Source: World Bank / UNESCO UIS · 2003–2022 · Public education expenditure (% of GDP).

A parliamentary reply in March 2026 cites the government’s 2022–23 expenditure report, reporting combined Centre–state/UT education spending of 4.06% of GDP. Clearly, we need a systematic plan to reach the spending target made in NEP. Also, this is to be done under strict scrutiny of how effectively the money reaches schools and students.

How to Improve Learning in Schools

I think, inside the classroom, the focus should be on helping children understand what they are taught. Teachers must identify who is facing difficulties in learning and answer their questions and address their learning gaps individually to ensure effective learning. Completing the syllabus means little to a student who has already fallen behind. Teachers should have the flexibility, support and resources to identify learning gaps, revisit basic concepts and help children catch up. Regular assessment can be helpful for teachers to identify who needs help and what kind of help they need.

Schools must create an environment where children feel comfortable asking questions. A student who does not understand something should be able to say so without embarrassment. Reading, writing, basic maths and the ability to explain an idea in their own words provide a foundation for further learning. Teachers must help students to achieve a solid foundation. If we can somehow check the foundational knowledge of students without disturbing their day-to-day learning then this way we can judge a school’s performance.

This is where political accountability becomes important. During elections, we should ask parties what they plan to do about teacher vacancies, school facilities and children’s learning. Political parties’ manifestos should include clear timelines and measurable goals. Parents should be able to see what was promised, what was funded and what actually improved in their local schools. Otherwise, manifestos filled with freebies won't help our nation to develop and prosper in coming years.

Why can’t better education become a stronger reason to win an election? A commitment to good schools and educational infrastructure throughout the nation deserves serious public attention. That attention should continue after voting ends, through questions from parents, local communities, elected representatives and opposition political parties.

Conclusion

We have heard India described as a developing nation for generations. If we want the next generation to grow up with better opportunities, we need to give them an education they can actually use.

Share your thoughts using the comment section of CareerMagnet on how to improve education in India.