Delhi schools show strong infrastructure but struggle with student retention

Student retention has emerged as a pressing issue in Delhi’s schools even as the city records progress in infrastructure and digital access, according to the latest UDISE+ 2024-25 report released by the ministry of education.

The data shows no dropouts at the primary stage, but the rate climbs to 7.5% at the secondary level, signaling that many students are unable to continue through the final years of schooling.

While retention remains a concern, the report highlights several areas of improvement. Nearly 96% of Delhi’s 44.9 lakh students have submitted Aadhaar, a step officials say helps track enrollments more accurately and strengthens service delivery.

The capital also manages large student populations with relative efficiency. With only 5,556 schools, the average enrollment stands at over 808 students per institution, among the highest in the country.

Despite this, the pupil-teacher ratio is 28, well within the Right to Education norm, supported by 1.62 lakh teachers.

At the higher secondary stage, the ratio improves further to 20, reflecting concentrated resources in senior classes.

The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) provides further insights. Primary GER is at 102, slightly over 100, which the report attributes to migration and age variations in classrooms.

Upper primary GER is higher at 117, but the figure dips to 101 at the secondary level and falls sharply to 83 in higher secondary, showing that fewer children remain enrolled as they progress.

The school distribution also reflects this imbalance. Primary schools account for 45.5% of institutions, while higher secondary schools make up 34.2%. However, enrollment falls from 44.2% at the primary level to just 13.4% in higher secondary.

Infrastructure indicators paint a strong picture on paper. All schools report electricity, drinking water, and libraries, with over 5,500 equipped with ramps and special needs toilets.

More than 5,400 conducted medical check-ups last year, and over 5,100 have functional rainwater harvesting systems.

Digital facilities are nearly universal in both government and private schools, with 99.7% reporting functional desktops or PCs and full internet access.

However, gaps appear in advanced tools: 82.6% of private schools report functional smart classrooms, compared with 70.7% in government schools and 55.5% in aided schools.

Laptops and integrated devices also remain more common in private institutions.

Enrollment data shows that general category students make up 83.6% of the total, followed by scheduled castes (9.5%), OBCs (6.4%), and scheduled tribes (0.5%). Muslim students represent 14.5% of enrollments.

The findings suggest a system under pressure but also showing resilience. With high enrollments and limited schools, Delhi continues to maintain acceptable teacher-student ratios and expand digital facilities.

The report concludes that the challenge ahead lies in ensuring students not only start school but also complete their education, particularly at the secondary and higher secondary levels.