A new study shows that there is a significant increase of Muslim children especially girls entering elementary education programmes in various schools across the country .“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,” said the report.

The preliminary data also reveals that while there is a total Muslim enrolment of 12.58 pc in elementary classes I to VIII,  49.20 percent of this figure are girls.

According to the report, “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 2008-09) 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.”

The report further mentions that during 2009-10, an additional 2.34 million Muslim minority children were enrolled in primary classes across the country. The percentage share of Muslim enrolment during the previous year was 11.03 percent and in 10.49 percent in 2007-08.

The report titled ‘DISE Flash Statistics: Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE’ is prepared by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA).

Read the report