Gujarat has spent just 3.3 per cent of its state gross domestic product (GSDP) towards education sector indicating one of the lowest levels among the top 20 states in the country during the period 2007-08 to 2013-14, revealed a study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).

"Gujarat has incurred least expenditure on education sector development in recent years, considering the education outlay as a percentage of state's gross domestic product (GSDP)," noted the apex industry body.

"Nationally 1.3 per cent of GDP is being incurred on education sector related expenditure, while Assam and Bihar (11 per cent) both ranked top in terms education expenditure as a percentage of their respective GSDP," a study titled 'States Emergence: A comparative analysis of growth & development',conducted by Assocham.

Growth in number of teachers

Gujarat ranked 11th in terms of growth in the number of teachers in the State which grew from over 2.3 lakh to over three lakh at a CAGR of 4.8 per cent which was below the national growth rate of 5.4 per cent during 2007-08 and 2013-14, as per the study prepared by the Assocham Economic Research Bureau.

The State ranked 12th in terms of growth in the number of schools, which reported a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about two per cent from just over 39,000 schools to over 43,100 schools during 2007-08 and 2013-14.

Students-teacher ratio

The students-teacher ratio has improved slightly from 33 students per teacher in 2007-08 to 30 students per teacher in 2013-14, but the State ranks 17th in this regard among other states. The national average for the same is about 26 students per teacher as of 2013-14 against 33 students per teacher in 2007-08.

The study also revealed that the State has registered third highest growth rate in terms of student enrolment at a CAGR of over three per cent between 2007-08 and 2013-14, while nationally student enrolment in schools grew at just about one per cent.

IT infrastructure

On the IT infrastructure, the State ranks second with 73 per cent of schools in the State having computer facility in 2013-14 against 36.5 per cent in 2007-08, while nationally, about 23 per cent of schools had computer facility as of 2013-14 against about 14 per cent in 2007-08.

"In terms of education development, the challenge remains of providing equal opportunities for quality education to ever-growing number of students, reinvigorating institutions, crossing international benchmarks of excellence and extending the frontiers of knowledge,” said D S Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham.

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