Improvement in female students enrollment in educational institutes

In a significant update regarding higher education in India, the Indian Ministry of Education has released the AISHE 2020-2021 survey. Conducted annually since 2011, the survey covers all higher education institutions in the country and collects extensive data on various metrics such as student enrollment, teaching staff, infrastructure, and finance. In a major first, data for the 2020-21 survey was collected completely online. Key highlights from this year include a landmark rise in female enrollment and notable increases in student enrollments across SC, ST, and OBC categories.

The number of students from the North Eastern Region has grown by 29% since 2014-15. The Gross Enrollment Ratio improved for all social groups, and Distance Education saw a 7% increase in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20.

The number of universities grew by 70, and the number of colleges by 1,453. The Gender Parity Index rose from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21. The total number of faculty members increased by 47,914 from the previous year.

Following are the key highlights of the survey:

Female Students Enrollment

• The total enrollment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore in 2019-20.  Since 2014-15, there has been an increase of around 72 Lakh in the enrolment (21%). 
• The Female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20.  There has been an increase of around 44 Lakh (28%) since 2014-15.
• The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45% in 2014-15 to around 49% in 2020-21.
• As per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group, GER has increased to 27.3 from 25.6 in 2019-20.
• Notable increase of 1.9 points is observed in GER of ST students in 2020-21, as compared to 2019-20.
• Female GER has overtaken Male GER since 2017-18. Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER to male GER, has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21.
• The enrolment of SC students is 58.95 Lakh as compared to 56.57 Lakh in 2019-20 and 46.06 Lakh in 2014-15.
• The enrolment of ST students has increased to 24.1 Lakh in 2020-21 from 21.6 Lakh in 2019-20 and 16.41 Lakh in 2014-15.
• The female enrolment in North East States is 6.14 lakh in 2020-21, higher than the male enrolment of 5.92 lakh .   The female enrolment outnumbered male enrolment for first time in 2018-19, and the trend continues.
• The enrolment in Distance Education is 45.71 Lakh (with 20.9 Lakh Female), an increase of around 7% since 2019-20 and 20% since 2014-15.
• Of the total enrolment, 55.5 Lakh students are enrolled in Science Stream, with female students (29.5 Lakh) out numbering male students (26 Lakh).
• The enrolment in Institute of National Importance (INIs) has increased by nearly 61% during the period 2014-15 to 2020-21.
• Enrolment has increased in 2020-21 compared to 2014-15 in the Specialized Universities relating to Defence, Sanskrit, Biotechnology, Forensics, Design, Sports etc.
• The total number of pass-outs has increased to 95.4 Lakh in 2020-21 as against 94 Lakh in 2019-20.

Faculty

• The total number of faculty/teachers are 15,51,070 of which about 57.1% are male and 42.9% are female. 
• The female per 100 male faculty has improved to 75 in 2020-21 from 74 in 2019-20 and 63 in 2014-15.

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