ABSTRACT
When we look deeper and examine the data on Gross Enrolment Ratios at different stages, dropout rates, transition rates, and successful secondary school completion rates, it becomes apparent that quality education has remained elusive and that disparities across genders, socio-economic classes, and geographical areas persist. This chapter attempts to draw a picture of this situation using secondary data from government sources and examines the data that is available on economically and socially backward groups. Annual Status of Education Report noted that learning levels in Punjab and Tamil Nadu, where the state governments ran special programmes to improve reading ability and numeracy under the government's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Programme, witnessed the most improvement. It is important to note that student attendance is tied to teacher attendance: without teachers present in the classroom, learning cannot happen. In terms of Scheduled Caste enrolment in private schools, we can see that the year-on-year enrolment is increasing at both the primary and upper primary levels.
