Delhi LG VK Saxena points to 'high absenteeism, decline in student enrolment'

Posing yet another question on AAP's 'education model', LG VK Saxena has expressed concern over data from Delhi's Economic Survey 2020-21 showing a 'decline' in student enrolment in Delhi government schools and 'significant absenteeism' of students despite 'high investment' made by the government in the education sector.

The LG's office has written to the Delhi chief secretary stating that this 'anomaly' may be examined in 'larger public interest' and has sought a note on the issue.

The communication notes that attendance in Delhi government schools was 55%-61% between 2016-17 to 2019-20 which indicates "high absenteeism" in the range of approximately "6 lakh children not attending schools regularly".

Similarly, enrolment in Delhi government schools declined from 15.42 lakh in 2014-15 to 15.19 lakh in 2019-20 even as per student per annum expenditure increased from ₹42,806 in 2015-16 to ₹66,593 in 2019-20.