Assam's gross enrollment ratio in higher education stuck between 17-18 percent: CM Sarma

Digital Desk: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the difficulties facing the region's higher education system, pointing out that the gross enrollment ratio (GER) has been stuck at 17 to 18%. 

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa said, "I have a concern, even this time we have seen in the higher education survey conducted by the GoI, the gross enrollment ratio in higher education in Assam is still in 17.5%...it has not shown any significant increase despite of the investment made by the state government in the higher education sector last year."

The CM added that although postgraduate programs and new universities have been established, the gross enrollment ratio remains at 17–18% and needs to be justified.

No going by the statistics but following the perception level, the chief minister asserted that students who had not previously considered pursuing postgraduate studies have suddenly registered in both technical and other courses. 

"I think either we have not participated in the enrollment process the way we should have been or somewhere there is wrong...I think the higher education department must think about it," said CM.

According to data available till 2020, the GER in Assam tertiary education has fluctuated over the years, hitting an all-time high of 18.7% in 2018. 

This suggests that efforts to broaden access to postsecondary education and enhance the state's GER in this area must continue.

The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020–2021 has been made public by the Indian government's Ministry of Education. 

Since 2011, all higher education institutions in the Indian Territory that provide higher education to the nation are included in the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) conducted by the Ministry. 

The survey collects extensive information on several aspects, including student enrollment, instructor data, infrastructure data, financial data, and so on. 

The Department of Higher Education's National Informatics Center (NIC) developed the Web Data Capture Format (DCF), which HEIs filled out utilizing an exclusively online platform for the first time in AISHE 2020–21.

From 3.85 crore in 2019–20 to around 4.14 crore in 2020–21, more people are enrolled in higher education.  

Enrollment has increased by over 72 lakh (21%), from 2014–2015.