MP sees surge in public school enrolments, but learning gaps persist

Madhya Pradesh aims to enrol 1.45 crore students in public schools this academic session, reflecting rising parental trust in government education. Last year, enrolments jumped by 32.4 per cent, and officials report zero dropouts. Yet behind this surge lies a worrying gap: many students continue to lag in foundational literacy and numeracy.
The state has invested heavily to encourage attendance, allocating Rs 250 crore for laptops, Rs 100 crore for scooters, and Rs 210 crore for bicycles, alongside free textbooks, uniforms and meals. While these measures have increased enrolments, education experts warn they do not automatically improve core learning outcomes.
Recent assessments paint a stark picture. A National Achievement Survey of Class 3 students found performance in reading, writing and mathematics below national averages. Under the NIPUN Bharat Mission, only 39 per cent of Class 3 pupils meet oral reading fluency benchmarks, and just 22 per cent demonstrate basic numeracy skills. Class 2 results are lower still, with 27 per cent achieving reading fluency and 11 per cent reaching numeracy benchmarks.
Himanshu Dusane, an educationist and academic dean with experience in school and competitive exam education, said the state’s focus on enrolment must be balanced with attention to learning quality. “Enrolment figures are encouraging, but unless classroom instruction and assessment systems are strengthened, we will continue to see a disconnect between access and actual learning,” he said. 

Sanjay Mishra, district project coordinator for the “School Chale Hum” campaign, said simplified admissions and incentives have helped boost enrolments. He added that trained teachers, remedial support and robust monitoring are essential to translate access into measurable learning progress at the classroom level.
Educationists in Indore caution that high enrolments alone cannot secure children’s educational futures. Without improvements in teaching quality and regular progress tracking, gaps in literacy, numeracy and writing skills are likely to persist, even as public schools gain popularity among families.