Half of Young India out of school
Only About 50% Of Citizens Between 5 And 29 Attending Educational Institutes
New Delhi: Only about 50% Indians in the age group of 5-29 years are
attending any educational institution, a recent National Sample Survey
Organisation report says, raising fears about the availability of skilled
workers in a booming economy. And predictably, Kerala tops the states in
terms of literacy, while rural Bihar is at the bottom.
The literacy rate in India during 2004-05 was 64%, the study says. In
Kerala, 83% of its rural population and 85% of urban residents are literate.
Bihar’s rural areas had the lowest literacy rate of 44%, while Rajasthan
registered the lowest urban literacy rate at 64%.
The most worrying finding in the survey on Status of Education and
Vocational Training in India-2004-05 was that almost half of the nation’s
future workforce was out of school. Of the 50% people between 5 and 29
attending any educational institute, 53% were males and 46% females.
Among the states, the attendance rate was highest (60%) in Haryana and
lowest (42%) in Orissa. While 63% of all these students were in government
institutions, about 17% were studying in private unaided institutions and
14% were attached to private aided institutes. A meagre 6% went to local
body institutions.
A majority of males who were away from education attributed the reason
to “supplement household income”. Similarly, the girls cited “domestic
chores”, the survey found.
In the age group of 15-29 years, about 2% reported to have received
formal vocational training and another 8% non-formal vocational training.
In about 26% of households in rural areas and about 8% in urban areas,
there was not a single member above 15 who could read and write a simple
message, the survey said. About 50% of rural families and 20% of urban
households had no literates among women of 15 and above, it added.
LITERACY FACTS
In ’04-05, India’s literacy rate was 64%
Kerala topped list, with 83% of its rural population and 85% of urban
residents able to read and write
Rural Bihar had lowest rate with 44%
Rajasthan had lowest urban literacy rate of 64%