In 2010-11, the enrollment for higher education was 27.5
million which raised to 33.3 million in 2014-15; a startling fact. Not only
this, there has been increase in Gross Enrolment Ratio. It jumped from 19.4 %
in 2010-11 to 23.6% in 2014-15. Gross Enrolment Ratio is used to calculate
enrolment in higher education of those who are eligible in the age group of 18-23
years.
There has been a slight improvement in Gender Parity Index (GPI) from 0.86 to 0.93. It's a ratio of proportional representation of female and male. This is due to the fact that number of institutions for higher education has also increased providing an opportunity for the students. These have increased from - universities from 621 to 757 and colleges from 32, 974 to 38,056.
A survey was conducted in 2011 for preparing data on higher education is now being conducted for 2014-15.
HRD minister Smriti Irani on Monday stated that these facts (that GER has increased from 19.4% to 23.6%) clearly show that a higher target of 30 % GER is achievable in 2020. Then, she said that this data helps in forming policies towards higher education such as efforts being made to increase female teachers.
The survey would include all institutes i.e., colleges and stand-alone institutions. The main feature of this survey is that it's voluntary without respondents being pushed. It's based on encouragement for collecting data including those from online respondents. The survey covers all items such as basic details, programme details, teaching and non-teaching staff, student enrolment, examination result, infrastructure, scholarships and financial issues of students.