For the first time in the country, the number of school teachers has crossed 1 crore. The Ministry of Education's report recorded a decline in the dropout rate and an increase in GER. Improvement in the student-teacher ratio and emphasis on the quality of education have been highlighted.
Education Ministry Report: A new record has been set in the field of education in the country. According to the latest report from the Ministry of Education, the number of school teachers in India has crossed the 1 crore mark for the first time. This achievement was made in the 2024-25 academic session. The Ministry states that this step will not only help in enhancing the quality of education but will also elevate the standard of education across the country.
Number of Teachers Reaches 1,01,22,420 in 2024-25
According to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 report released by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, the total number of teachers in the country has reached 1,01,22,420. In 2023-24, this number was 98,07,600, and in 2022-23, it was 94,83,294. Thus, a continuous increase in the number of teachers has been recorded over the past two years.
A Big Step Towards Improving Student-Teacher Ratio
The rising number of teachers will have a direct impact on the student-teacher ratio. Previously, the quality of education was affected in many areas due to a high number of students per teacher. Now, with the appointment of new teachers, this gap will reduce, and students will be able to receive individual attention. The Ministry states that this effort will strengthen the quality of education and also reduce disparities between rural and urban areas.
Significant Decline in Dropout Rate
An important aspect of the report is the continuous decline in the number of children dropping out of school.
- At the Preparatory Level: The dropout rate has decreased from 3.7% to 2.3%.
- At the Middle Level: This rate has dropped from 5.2% to 3.5%.
- At the Secondary Level: The most significant improvement has been observed here, where the rate has fallen from 10.9% to 8.2%.
These figures indicate that the policies and initiatives of the Ministry of Education are succeeding in retaining children in schools.
Improvement in Student Retention Rate
The report also provides information on the improvement in the student retention rate in schools.
- At the Foundational Level: Increased from 98% to 98.9%
- At the Preparatory Level: Increased from 85.4% to 92.4%
- At the Middle Level: Increased from 78% to 82.8%
- At the Secondary Level: Increased from 45.6% to 47.2%
This improvement shows that government policies are continuously proving effective in keeping students engaged with schools.
Increase in Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)
The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is an important indicator of the education system. The report indicates that there has been an improvement in this as well in 2024-25.
- At the Middle Level: Increased from 89.5% to 90.3%
- At the Secondary Level: Increased from 66.5% to 68.5%
This signifies that more and more children are now enrolling in schools.
Improvement in Transition Rate
The transition rate, which is the rate of students moving from one level to another, has also seen an increase.
- From Foundational to Preparatory Level: 98.6%
- From Preparatory to Middle Level: 92.2%
- From Middle to Secondary Level: 86.6%
These figures clearly indicate that children are now completing their education from primary to secondary levels.
Initiatives to Reduce the Gap in Rural and Urban Education
An important objective behind the increase in the number of teachers is also to bridge the gap between rural and urban education. The problem of teacher-student ratio has persisted in rural areas for a long time. Now, with the appointment of new teachers, this situation will improve, and rural students will also receive quality education.
Digital Education to Also Gain Momentum
With the increase in the number of teachers, digital education is also expected to gain new momentum. Smart classrooms and digital learning are being promoted in many states. New teachers will help in better implementation of these technologies.
