A survey conducted by the NCERT shows an impressive growth in the enrolment of girl students in schools. The eighth all India education survey (AIES) by NCERT for 2002-09 shows the enrolment at primary stage stood at 48.13 percent but came down to 42.56 percent at higher secondary stage. Similar trend is observed in percentage of girls enrolled in schools in rural areas.

The survey covered more than 13 lakhs recognised schools across the country in each village and urban areas, out of which more than 84 percent schools were in rural areas.

The AIES shows that 13.67 percent growth was registered in students' enrolment from Class I-XII. At present, 228,994,454 students are enrolled in different recognised schools of the country. In case of girls, the enrolment increased by 19.12 percent.

Also, there was 26.77 percent increase in total number of schools in the country during 2002-09. Maximum growth rate was witnessed in upper primary schools (49.15 percent) followed by higher secondary schools (46.80 percent), secondary by 28.95 and primary by 16.68 percent.

The AIES is considered to be the most comprehensive national-level survey covering the school education system with respect to access, enrolment, retention, participation in school process, equity, teachers and availability of basic facilities. The data is important as the right to education (RTE) act has its first deadline on March 31, 2013.

The survey reveals that schools in rural areas were still deprived of basic facilities like drinking water, usable urinal and playgrounds.

One-fifth of the total primary schools in rural areas did not have drinking water, three out of 10 schools were without usable urinal facilities and about half of the schools did not have playgrounds, it said.

It noted that there was a 30 percent increase in number of teachers in the country and the growth of teachers in higher secondary schools increased by 34 percent.

However, in case of higher secondary education in rural areas, the growth was almost 50 percent. Forty percent of the primary schools have two teachers in each school.

It said pupil teacher ratio has improved from the last survey in primary, upper primary and secondary schools.