Female Enrollment In Schools And Colleges Drops in Gujarat : Where Are We Lacking?

The latest stats on the enrollment of female students in primary schools and technical institutes from Gujarat has presented a rather disappointing picture. An economic survey stated that the enrollment of female students in Gujarat was reduced by half over the last five years.

Women's education has always been a topic of concern in India. Despite multiple schemes and ample awareness, there are still people who don't enroll their daughters in schools or don't allow them to study after a certain stage. The reasons could range from the concern about how the girls will be treated by boys in school to the patriarchal belief that girls don't need to study much as they have to become homemakers. The authorities play an important role in making sure that girls get equal opportunities to educate themselves. A recent survey from Gujarat showed that by 2023, the enrollment of female students dropped by almost half.

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Decreased Female Enrollment In Gujarat

Recently, the 2022-23 edition of Socio-Economic Review revealed a significant decrease in enrollment of female students in primary schools, diploma courses, and technical and professional degrees in Gujarat from 2017-18. The female enrollment in degree programmes fell to 1.85 lakh in 2022-23 from 3.79 lakh in 2018-19, a 50% decline in number. In fact, there were 25% fewer female students in degree courses in 2022-23 as compared to 2021-22. The drastic decline in just a year has forced more than 9 institutes to shut down because of a lack of students.

In the case of diploma programmes, though the number of institutes increased from 155 to 165, the number of female students fell from 26,026 in 2018-19 to 13,847 in 2022-23. This number was 20,336 in 2021-22 and currently, female students comprise only 14% of the total students in diploma institutes in Gujarat.

These stats come at a time when the All India Survey On Higher Education (AISHE) recently revealed an increase of about 50% in female enrollment in higher education. The female enrollment even surpassed male enrollment as per the survey but at the same time, the survey from Gujarat had disappointing results. It is noteworthy that Gujarat is considered one of the fastest-growing states in India with new infrastructure and accomplishments in its record. However, the state falls behind Rajasthan, a state that is assumed to be one of the most conservative states, as it ranked in the top six in the AISHE survey.

Similar stats were seen in primary schools where female enrollment declined from 41.21 lakh in 2018-19 to 39.91 lakh in 2022-23. The decline in enrollment caused around 113 girls' schools to close down in the state. This decline in female enrollment is a sign that there are still speculations among the public on whether education can really benefit girls. It becomes important for the government and authorities to take this decline seriously and take measures to increase awareness on the matter.

Depriving young girls of education will only make their future dark and uncertain and will decline them good opportunities to build their own life in the future. Their choice of higher education needs to be prioritised in order to make use of their full potential. With proper education and opportunity, these women will become a good addition to the workforce and development of the state as well as the country.