2011 Census shows hike in middle, higher education levels
4.5% of population graduates, 32.6% below primary level.
While the population attending any educational institute accounted for 22.24 per cent of the total population in Census 2001, this percentage stood at 25.97 per cent in Census 2011.
The 2011 Census shows an improvement in middle and higher education levels in India as compared to the 2001 Census, but it also registers a decline at the lower levels of ‘Below Primary’ and ‘Primary’ education.
Those attending ‘Middle’, ‘Matric/Secondary’, ‘Higher Secondary/Senior Secondary’ and ‘Graduate and Above’ levels accounted for a higher share of the literate population attending any educational institute in the country in the decade of 2001-11, compared with the previous decade, according to the latest data released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
As per Census 2011 data, of the population attending any educational institute in the country, ‘Below Primary’ accounted for 32.6 per cent compared to 42.27 per cent in the previous census; ‘Primary’ accounted for 25.2 per cent compared to 26.33 per cent previously; ‘Middle’ accounted for 15.7 per cent, up from 13.88 per cent; ‘Matric’ accounted for 11.1 per cent, up from 8.75 per cent; ‘Higher Secondary’ accounted for 8.6 per cent, a rise from 5.45 per cent; and ‘Graduate and Above’ accounted for 4.5 per cent, from 2.12 per cent.
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A release issued by the Home Ministry on Friday stated, “The improvements at higher educational levels are an indication of educational advancement in the country during 2001-11.”
While the population attending any educational institute accounted for 22.24 per cent of the total population in Census 2001, this percentage stood at 25.97 per cent in Census 2011.
The Registrar General and Census Commissioner Friday also released cross-classified data on workers and educational levels. The data on workers was in five categories — Literate but below matric/secondary, Matric/secondary but below graduate, Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree, Graduate and above other than technical degree, and Technical degree or diploma equal to degree or post-graduate degree.
According to Census 2011, of about 55.5 million ‘Marginal Workers’ seeking or available for work in India, the majority of 21.9 million (39.4 per cent) are illiterate, followed by 20.9 million (37.6 per cent) literate but below matric/secondary, and 8 million (14.5 per cent) Matric/secondary but below graduate.
Among 60.7 million non-workers available for work in India, the major share is of literates but below matric/secondary (33.6 per cent) followed by Matric/secondary but below graduate (31.1 per cent) and Illiterate (17.2 per cent).
Educational levels of ‘Main Workers’ (2011)
Illiterate: 104.3 mn (28.8%) Literate but below
matric/ secondary: 130.2 mn (35.9%)
Matric/ secondary but below graduate: 71.5 mn (19.7%)
Total workers: 362.6 mn
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