Rise in Participation of Muslim Children in Elementary Education

Preliminary Analysis of DISE* 2009-10 Data-Summarised Version

By Syed Shahabuddin

NUEPA has released detailed state-specific indicators and Educational Development Index (EDI) through its publication, DISE Flash Statistics: Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE which is based on the data collected during the year 2009-10 with 30th September 2009 as its date of reference.

The preliminary analysis of provisional data suggests a significant improvement in participation of Muslim Minority children in elementary education programmes.

The Data which has been received from more than 1.28 million recognised schools imparting elementary education from across 635 Districts spread over 35 States and Union Territories of the country reveals a total enrolment of 17.17 million (against 14.83 million in 2008-2009) Muslim children in primary classes in 2009-10 which is 13.04 percent of the total 131.72 million enrolment (Total, provisional) in Primary Classes I to V. During 2009-10, an additional 2.34 million Muslim minority children were enrolled in Primary classes across the country. The percent share of Muslim enrolment during the previous year was 11.03 percent and in 2007-08, it was 10.49 percent.

Of the total Muslim enrolment in primary classes, the percentage of Muslim girls is 48.89 which is quite similar to the share of girls in overall Primary enrolment (48.44 percent) at the all-India level. Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Bihar, Delhi Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal are a few other states which have a high percentage of Muslim Minority children in its Primary lasses. Like enrolment in Primary classes, percentage of Muslim enrolment in Upper Primary classes has also improved to 11.47 percentages in 2009-10, from 9.13 percentage in 2008-09 and 8.54 percent in 2007-08. Of the total 54.02 million enrolment in Upper Primary classes in the country in 2009-10, Muslim enrolment is reported to be 6.20 million (4.87 million in 2008-2009) and the percentage of Muslim girls to total Muslim enrolment in Upper Primary classes is 49.97 percent which is above the National average of 48.04. like enrolment in Primary classes, Assam,. Bihar, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal too have high percentage share of Muslim enrolment in its Primary classes.

The preliminary data also reveals 12.58 percent Muslim enrolment in Elementary classes I to VIII of which 49.20 percent are girls. Both Primary and Upper Primary enrolment together have a total of 23.37 million Muslim enrolment in Elementary classes. Uttar Pradesh alone has a total of 3.09 million Muslim enrolment against 3.51 million in West Bengal and 2.57 million in Bihar in Elementary classes. The provisional Gross enrolment Ratio at Elementary level of education in case of Muslim children comes out to e around 93 percent.

The preliminary enrolment data for the year 2009-10 also reveals that there are certain pockets in the country which has got high percentage of Muslim enrolment. There are about 1,01,484 schools which has got more than 25 percent Muslim enrolment (to total enrolment in elementary classes) which is 7.91 percent of the total schools that impart elementary education in the country. Similarly, 72,053 (5.62 percent) schools have above 50 percent Muslim enrolment as compared to 54,355 schools (4.84 percent) having 75 percent and above and 43,809 schools (3.41 percent) even having a share of 90 and above Muslim enrolment to total enrolment in the country.

Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, 34 districts in the country have more than 50 percent Muslim enrolment in Primary classes in 2009-10 compared to 30 such districts in case of Upper Primary enrolment. One each from Bihar, Lakshadweep and Kerala and 2 from West Bengal and 8 districts of Assam.

*DISE is District Information System for Education; a joint initiative of National University of Educational Planning & Administration (NUEPA), Ministry of HRD & UNICEF.