Enrolment of children at elementary level has improved during 2010-11 in the country, but parents are more inclined to get their children into private schools. Hence, enrolment of children in private schools has increased, says a study.

The report prepared by National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) is based on the data received from 1.36 million schools spread over 637 districts in 35 states. It said that enrolment in class I-V has declined in government schools in 2010-11 as compared to 2009-10.

The biggest decline in government primary school enrollment was in Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. States like Punjab saw a rise of 70,000 students in government primary schools, the increase in private school enrollment was much smaller at about 25,000 students.

Even in Delhi, which saw a rise in enrolment in both government and private primary schools, the preference was clearly for the private ones. While enrolment in government schools increased by about 14,000, the increase in private school enrollment was about 30,000.

Overall, enrolment in government schools during the period was 9,40,88,108 as compared to 9,62,22,886 in 2009-10. Whereas enrolment in all private schools during 2010-11 was 3,82,35,561 as compared to 3,70,99,124 in 2009-10.

The report 'Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE', tracks the progress of states towards providing universal elementary education. It showed a marginal improvement in enrolment among girls between class VI and VIII and a slight drop between class I and V. The enrolment stood at 48.39 percent in 2010-11 as against 48.12 percent in 2009-10. Muslim enrolment at the primary level stood at 13.04 percent, it is down from 13.48 percent registered in 2009-10.

On state’s performances, Kerala no longer tops the charts on educational development index (EDI). Kerala, which was ranked number three in 2009-10, slipped to number five in 2010-11. Punjab is among the top three states in EDI, which tracks the progress of states towards providing universal elementary education, for 2010-11. It gained four places to be among the top three states in EDI, improving from seventh position to third position.

Puducherry and Lakshadweep continued to remain among the top two states. Tamil Nadu, which was earlier ranked fifth, improved its performance marginally to occupy the fourth slot. Delhi too recorded a drop, though its enrolment had increased marginally.

The EDI, a ranking conducted by National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), has been developed keeping in mind four broad parameters - access, infrastructure, teacher-related indicators and outcomes. The index takes into account availability of schools, the average student-to-child ratio, the availability of drinking water facilities and the availability of toilets for girls and boys.