Global Out-of-School Population Climbs to 273 Million

Syllabus: GS2/ Education

Context

• According to the latest report by UNESCO, titled “2026 GEM Report — Access and Equity: Countdown to 2030”, the global out-of-school population has reached 273 million in 2024.

Key Highlights of Report

• Low Retention and Completion: The report states that only two-thirds of students globally complete secondary education.
  • One in six school-age children remains excluded from education globally, indicating a major challenge to achieving universal education.
• Access Does Not Ensure Learning: The report emphasises that increased enrolment in schools does not necessarily translate into meaningful learning outcomes.
  • The factors such as overcrowded classrooms, lack of trained teachers, and insufficient learning materials are major constraints to quality education.
• Inadequate Financing: The report points out that insufficient and poorly targeted public financing remains a major obstacle to achieving universal education.

Positive Trends in School Education 

• The report highlights that several countries have achieved significant reductions in out-of-school populations since 2000.
• Madagascar and Togo have reduced out-of-school rates among children by over 80 percent.
• Morocco and Vietnam have achieved similar progress among adolescents, while Georgia and Türkiye have improved outcomes among youth.
• Côte d’Ivoire has reduced out-of-school rates across all age groups by half during the same period.

School Education in India

• India operates one of the world’s largest school systems, serving 24.69 crore students across 14.71 lakh schools, supported by over 1.01 crore teachers (UDISE+ 2024-25).
• Gross enrolment ratio (GER) scores, as per NEP academic structure, are 95.4 at the preparatory stage (Grade III to Grade V), 90.3 at the middle stage (Grade VI to Grade VIII), and 68.5 at the secondary stage (Grade IX to Grade XII).

Government Initiatives taken in India 

• Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA): It is an overarching scheme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII.
  • The Scheme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). 
• PM SHRI Schools: Development of 14,500 schools as exemplary institutions with modern infrastructure and pedagogy.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals to students in government schools to encourage school attendance, improve nutrition, and reduce dropout rates.
• Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Guarantees free and compulsory education for children in the 6-14 age group, focusing on quality education and no discrimination.
• National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education: Aims to encourage girls from rural areas to continue education by providing financial incentives.
• New Education Policy 2020: 
  • Emphasis on early childhood care and education (ECCE), particularly for children up to 6 years.
  • Introduction of a 5+3+3+4 school structure (5 years of foundation, 3 years of preparatory, 3 years of middle, and 4 years of secondary education).
  • Focus on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving rather than rote learning.

Concluding remarks

• The findings of UNESCO highlight that the global education crisis is not limited to access alone but extends to issues of equity and quality of learning.
• With the deadline for Sustainable Development Goal 4 approaching in 2030, there is an urgent need for accelerated and focused action.
• Ensuring that every child not only attends school but also learns effectively is essential to achieving the vision of inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Source: DTE