MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)
(a) & (b): Census 2011 has reported that 8.4 crore children do not go to school in the age
group of 5 – 17 years. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE)
Act, 2009 the mandated age group for free and compulsory elementary education in a
neighbourhood school is 6-14 years. The age group of 5–17 years quoted in the Census data,
thus, includes one year of pre-schooling age (5 years) and 3 years of above elementary age
which is of secondary and senior secondary level of schooling.
According to Census 2011, the number of children who do not attend schools (including
never attended and attended before) in the age group of 6-13 years are 3.8 crore. Census 2011
has shown a marked decline in the number of out of school children in this age group from
5.8 crore in 2001 to 3.8 crore in 2011, a 35% decline over a period of ten years.
The RTE Act, 2009, which became operative with effect from 1st April, 2010, mandates that
all children in the age group of 6-14 years shall be in schools for completing elementary
education. Section 4 of the RTE Act, 2009 provides for special training for age appropriate
admission of out of school children. Those children who have missed out certain academic
years either because they were never enrolled in school or dropped out of school, have a
right to Special Training in residential and non residential mode, subsequently to be
mainstreamed in formal schools in age appropriate class.
(c): As per an independent survey commissioned by Ministry of Human Resource
Development in 2014, 60.64 lakh children were estimated to out of school in the age group of
6 to 13 years. As per the survey findings, reasons for not attending the school include, interalia,
poverty/economic reasons, child not interested in studies, girls needed to help in
domestic work or to take care of siblings, boys required to supplement household income and
education not considered necessary by the head of the household.
(d): The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides assistance to
State Governments and UTs to ensure quality elementary education for all children.
Universal enrolment is the first goal of SSA, and hence all efforts are being made to bring all
children in schools. SSA has provided 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools
for ensuring universal provisioning of schooling facilities. Preference for opening of school is
given to tribal areas, and areas with high concentration of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe
and minority population. In addition, 3609 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, which are
residential schools for girls at upper primary level, have also been sanctioned to the States for
improving access to marginalised girls particularly out of school, either drop out or never
enrolled. The number of total children enrolled at elementary level has increased from 15.1
crores in 1998-99 to 19.7 crore at present.
Under SSA, provisions have also been made for residential schools/hostels and
transportation/ escort facility for children living in sparsely populated areas, children living in
areas where schools cannot be opened due to unavailability of land and children in need of
care and protection. Special training is also provided to all such children who are school
dropouts and long absentees and they are enrolled in “back to school” camps.
Additionally, other strategies adopted under SSA such as strengthening school infrastructure,
improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible
category of children and mid-day meal in schools have proved to be useful in increasing the
enrolment of children in elementary schools.
To further work on this issue and in pursuance of a resolution adopted in the 63rd Meeting of
the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) held on 19th August, 2015 under the
Chairpersonship of Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, a Sub-Committee of
CABE under Chairpersonship of Minister of State for Human Resource Development has
been constituted to ‘Devise Pathway for Re-Engaging Out of School Children’ vide Order
dated 06.11.2015.
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