There has been an impressive growth secondary and higher education with the total enrolment touching 30 percent with a significant rise in the enrolment of women students, says the Economic Survey 2006-07.

The survey, tabled in the Lok Sabha Tuesday, said in the higher education sector, there has been an increase in annual student enrolment from 7.26 million in 1997-98 to 10.48 million in 2004-05.

The number of women students rose from 2.45 million in 1997 to 4.04 million in 2004-05, constituting 40.4 percent of the total enrolment.

The survey added that the number of secondary and higher secondary schools have increased from 7,416 in 1950-51 to 152,049 in 2004-05. The corresponding increase in total enrolment has been from 1.5 million in 1950-51 to 37 million in 2004-05.

It further said that the national literacy mission, which looks after adult education (15-35 age group), is trying to achieve a sustainable threshold literacy rate of 75 percent by the end of 2007.

At present 101 districts are implementing the total literacy campaign, 171 districts running post-literacy programmes and 325 districts continuing education programmes for the above age group.

However, the survey expressed concern that the gross enrolment ratio for 14-16 age group was 51.55 percent as of Sep 30, 2004. Of the 16-18 age group (Class 11 and 12) it was 27.82 percent.

'With rapid scientific and technological changes, the productivity and average earning of a secondary school certificate holder is significantly higher than that of a person who has studied only up to class eight,' the survey said.

It has also stressed that there is a need to increase the gross enrolment ratio (GER) at the secondary level, particularly now that the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) aims at enrolling all children of elementary school-going age by 2010.

'The target should be to provide a secondary school within five km of any habitation during the eleventh plan period. Not only universal enrolment, but universal retention and satisfactory quality of learning should be priorities,' the economic survey emphasised.

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