By Ajay Tomar
The southern states have by far a bigger rate of enrolment in higher education of students from Muslim communities as compared to their peers in other parts of India – particularly Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, where the community’s population is significant.
This has been stated in a study titled “State of Muslim Education in India” compiled and analysed by former professor Arun C Mehta, who was heading the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) at the National University of Educational Planning & Administration (NIEPA).
The study was compiled based on the 2020-21 and 2021-22 data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE Plus) – the largest school education database – and the 2020-21 data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE).
The two are under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Education.
Muslim education in southern states, UTs
From 17,39,218 Muslim students enrolled in higher education in 2016-17 in South Indian states and Union territories (UTs), the number increased to 21,00,860 students in 2019-20.
However, there was a decline of 8.53% in the following year, as the number of Muslim enrolments in higher education stood at 19,21,713 – a drop of 1,79,147 students.
The national average of Muslim students’ Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) between the age group 18 and 23 was 8.41%, with women performing better with a higher GER of 9.43% and males (8.44%).
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.