Last Updated: 02 Feb 2024

Problem(2021-22): Enrolment in higher education is constantly declining in Punjab since 2017-18^[1]
-- Nationally this is on the rise

AISHE report by Union Ministry of Education^[1:1]

-- 2021-22: Punjab’s GER stood at 27.4%, below National average of 28.3%
-- 2017-18: Punjab’s GER was 29.2%

¶ Comparison with neighbouring states^[1:2]

Punjab’s GER is the lowest

¶ All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2021-22^[2]

Punjab, the trend has reversed where it has decreased from 9.59 lakh to 8.58 lakh

• Released by the Union ministry of education
• National-level figures reveal that total enrollment in higher educational institutes has steadily increased from 3.66 crore to 4.32 crore
• Effect of mass migration of youths from Punjab to countries such as Canada and Australia

¶ Universities/Colleges^[1:3]

• Punjab saw a rise in number of universities from 32 in 2017-18 to 40 in 2021-22
• 3 state universities and 3 private universities have come up between 2017 and 2022
• Punjab saw a slight decline in the number of colleges during 2017-22
  • The number came down to 1,044 in 2021-22 from 1,053 in 2017-18
  • Average enrolment in the colleges has declined from 576 in 2017-18 to 494 in 2021-22

¶ PhD enrollment on rise in Punjab

Interestingly, the number of students pursuing a PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is on the rise in Punjab

Apart from UG courses, Punjab also saw a decline in students pursuing post-graduation, PG diplomas and diplomas

¶ What is GER?^[1:4]

• GER is a key indicator of the level of participation in higher education within a given population

Higher GER values therefore indicate greater enrolment in tertiary education among the specified age group

References:

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1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/higher-edu-enrolment-on-decline-in-punjab-reveals-centre-s-report-101706380935122.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/canada-effect-punjab-colleges-lose-1-lakh-students-5-years-9132258/ ↩︎