According to the report issued on Thursday, Punjab’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) stood at 27.4%, falling short of the national average of 28.3%. The report highlighted that Punjab’s GER was 29.2% during the 2017-18 academic session and has since been on a downward trend.

While national enrollment in higher education continues to climb, Punjab’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for the 18-23 age group is declining, as indicated by the latest All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for the academic year 2021-22. This disparity has brought to light the concerning trend that Punjab’s GER in higher education is the lowest in the region.

Comparatively, Punjab lags behind its neighboring states in GER, with Haryana at 33.3%, Himachal Pradesh at 43.1%, and Rajasthan at 28.6%. The survey, conducted by the Union Ministry of Education for AISHE 2021-22, spanned from November 18, 2022, to March 2023.

Punjab’s Education Report: Declining Gross Enrollment Ratio Falls Below National Average.

According to the report released on Thursday, Punjab’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) was recorded at 27.4%, falling below the national average of 28.3%. The report highlights a decline in Punjab’s GER from 29.2% in the 2017-18 academic session.

The GER serves as a crucial metric indicating the extent of participation in higher education within a specific population. Higher GER values signify increased enrollment in tertiary education among the designated age group. The GER for AISHE 21-22 is based on Population Projection derived from the 2011 Census.

In comparison to neighboring states, Punjab’s GER ranks the lowest. The report indicates Haryana with a GER of 33.3%, Himachal Pradesh at 43.1%, and Rajasthan at 28.6%. The survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Education for AISHE 2021-22 spanned from November 18, 2022, to March 2023.

In summary, student enrollment in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Punjab, particularly in the regular mode, has decreased to 7.69 lakh in the 2021-22 academic year from 9.34 lakh in 2017-18.

One notable trend highlighted in the report is the increasing number of students pursuing PhDs (Doctorate of Philosophy) in Punjab over the past five years, while the enrollment in Undergraduate Courses (UG) has declined since 2017-18. Besides UG courses, there has also been a decrease in students pursuing post-graduation, PG diplomas, and diplomas.

The report indicates that the number of students enrolled in PhD programs rose from 6,877 in 2017-18 to 10,325 in the 2021-22 academic session. Conversely, the number of UG students (in the regular mode) in Punjab decreased from 6.7 lakh in the 2017-18 academic session to 5.68 lakh in 2021-22.

Insights from Punjab’s Educational Landscape:

In terms of universities, Punjab witnessed an increase in their number, rising from 32 in 2017-18 to 40 in 2021-22. Between 2017 and 2022, three state universities and an equal number of private universities were established. However, concerning colleges, Punjab experienced a slight decrease in their count during the period from 2017 to 2022. The number decreased to 1,044 in 2021-22 from 1,053 in 2017-18, with the average enrollment in colleges declining from 576 in 2017-18 to 494 in 2021-22.