Education Insecurity

The lack of education in India remains a pressing concern, despite significant strides in recent years. According to UNESCO, India had an estimated 287 million illiterate adults in 2011, representing the highest number of illiterates in any country globally. As of 2018, 74.37% of people above the age of 15 are literate, and thankfully this is increasing. While enrollment rates in primary education have improved, dropout rates remain high, with the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) indicating that nearly 25% of children drop out before completing elementary school.

With this, gender disparities still persist; with the female literacy rate significantly lower than that of males, standing at 64.63% for females compared to 80.88% for males as per the 2011 Census.

Inadequate infrastructure, underqualified teachers, and a lack of resources in many government schools hinder the quality of education, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. These statistics underscore the urgent need for continued efforts and investments in India's education system to ensure equitable access to quality education for all its citizens.