About 69 per cent of urban students attend private (aided & unaided) institutions at the primary level, says a government survey. Preference for private institutions was visible up to the higher secondary level even though it entailed much higher expenses.

However, a majority of students in rural areas attend government institutions up to the higher secondary level, as per the findings of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) ‘Social Consumption: Education’ survey from January to June 2014.

In rural areas, 72 per cent of students at the primary level, 76 per cent at the upper primary level and 64 per cent at secondary & higher secondary levels attended government institutions, while in urban areas, 31 per cent at primary level, 38 per cent at upper primary level and secondary and higher secondary level, opted for government institutions.

Private expenditure The survey also found that people are ready to spend a much higher amount on technical or vocational courses as opposed to general education, such as graduation.

Average expenditure (₹) per student incurred and/or to be incurred during the current academic session was nearly ₹ 6,788 for general education, ₹ 62,841 for technical/professional (except vocational) and ₹ 27,676 for vocational courses. The highest component of this expenditure was on course fee at nearly 46 per cent for general education and 73 per cent for technical education.

The survey, however, noted that average expenditure in general education was more than double the national average only in Delhi, Chandigarh and Haryana.

At the all-India level, nearly 26 per cent of students were taking private coaching. For students pursuing general courses, 15 per cent was spent on private coaching, as against 3 per cent for students pursuing technical/professional education (including vocational).

Computer skills Only 6 per cent of rural households and 29 per cent of urban household possessed a computer, says the survey, adding that in households with at least one member aged 14 years and above, only 27 per cent had internet access in 2014.

Overall, only 18 per cent people in rural areas and 49 per cent in urban areas were able to operate a computer. In the age group of 14 years and above, males were found to be more adept than females at operating computers.

The proportion of urban males with ability to use computer for various purposes was more than three times their rural counterparts, but females were way behind in both urban and rural areas.

The survey covered the entire country with samples from 36,479 households in rural areas and 29,447 households in urban areas from 4,577 villages and 3,720 urban blocks.

Published on July 1, 2015