Models of Measuring Targets and Results in Primary Education

‘Primary Education’ in India is yet to reach its target. The target is to achieve universalisation of primary education. In other words, achievement of 100 per cent enrolment along with 100 per cent primary completion rate is the need of the hour. This study focuses on trends in the targets of primary education in India, in general, and in Andhra Pradesh, in particular. The main barriers for achieving the targets are a high dropout rate at the primary stage and stagnation. But the impact of stagnation on the dropout rate is negligible because of automatic promotion to the next grade in the primary education system. The main reason for stagnation is absenteeism, which ultimately results in "dropouts". The target achievement lies in reducing the dropout rate at the primary stage and improving the literacy rate. Literacy and dropouts are two sides of the same coin. There are different methods to calculate the dropout rate. In this regard, a comparative study of the Census data and results of the National Sample Survey (NSS) is necessary. Because of a variety of reasons, our education statistics are completely at variance with reality, as they overestimate the number of children in schools and underestimate the number of children out of school. Even the NSS data and the 2001 Census have their own limitations to reflect the reality. However, the Census data is being taken for the purpose of the present study.