INDIA'S EDUCATION CHALLENGE: Low Learning Outcomes *Underperforming Higher Education

INDIA, HOME TO 20 per cent of the world's youth population, stands at the cusp of a demographic dividend set to peak in 2041.

- Amit Kapoor & Kartik

This demographic advantage can only transform India's growth if the country's youth population is equipped with the requisite skills to enhance the country's productivity on the global stage. To empower the younger population with a high level of requisite skills, a robust and efficient education system is essential, particularly at the higher education level. In recent years, India has made significant strides in improving its access to basic education, but considerable gaps persist at the higher education level that must be addressed to fully harness this potential.

Two key factors determine an education system's effectiveness in improving a country's human capital. The first is widespread access and high enrolment across all levels of education, from primary school to tertiary institutions. The second crucial factor is the quality of education, which is measured by the level of learning outcomes for the country's students.

Regarding the first factor of Access to Education, at the Primary and Upper Primary levels, India has been able to bring the majority of the students under the formal education system, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) reaching 100.13 per cent at the elementary level, i.e. class one to the eight, an improvement from 97.4 per cent in the year 2011-12. The transition rate to the secondary level stood at 88.81 per cent in 2021-22, resulting in a GER of 79.56 per cent at the Secondary level of Education, i.e. Class IX-X. However, enrolment steadily declines as students progress to higher levels of education.