During implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the total enrolment in elementary schools has risen from 18.79 crore children in 2009-10 to 19.67 crore children in 2015-16. As per UDISE 2015-16, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 99.21% for primary and 92.81% for upper primary level. The Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) has improved from 32 in 2009-10 to 25 in 2015-16. 62.65% of the government schools in India have PTR as per the RTE norm which is 30:1 in primary level and 35:1 in upper primary level on an average. Number of Out of School children in 2005 was 134.6 lakh which has come down to 81 lakh in 2009 and 60.64 lakh in 2015. Average Annual Dropout rate at primary level has come down from 6.76% in 2009-10 to 4.13% in 2014-15 as per UDISE, 2015-16 and average Annual Dropout rate at upper primary level is 4.03% in 2014-15 as per UDISE, 2015-16. The transition rate from primary to upper primary has gone up from 85.17% in 2009-10 to 90.14% in 2014-15 as per UDISE, 2015-16. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) in 2014-15 has reached 0.93 for primary level and 0.95 at upper primary level. Enrolment of SC children has gone up from 19.06 % in 2010-11 to 19.79% in 2015-16 at elementary level. Enrolment of ST children is 10.35% in 2015-16 at elementary level. Enrolment of Muslim children has grown up from 12.50% in 2010-11 to 13.80% in 2015-16 at elementary level. As per UDISE 2015-16, a total no. of 10,76,994 government school are operational in India whereas 1,62,237 primary schools and 78,903 upper primary schools have been opened during the period 2002-03 to 2015-16.

In order to improve literacy rate, Saakshar Bharat, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Adult Education and Skill Development is being implemented in rural areas of 410 districts in 26 States and one UT that had adult female literacy rate of 50 per cent and below as per Census 2001, and including left wing extremism affected districts, irrespective of their literacy rates, with special focus on women and other disadvantaged groups.

This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Shri Upendra Kushwaha today in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.

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NB/AKJ/AK/RK/SSA & Saakshar Bharat