NEWS – College density in Karnataka is the highest in India with 66 colleges per one lakh eligible population, which is more than twice the national average of 30, as per data released by Niti Aayog

HIGHLIGHTS

Key Findings:

• College Density: Karnataka tops with 66 colleges per lakh eligible population, exceeding the national average of 30.
• Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Karnataka performs well with a ratio of 15:1, lower than the national average of 23. Tamil Nadu leads with 14:1.
• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Tamil Nadu leads with a GER of 47%, followed by Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
• Teacher Distribution:
  • Majority of teachers are lecturers/assistant professors (68%).
  • States like UP and Bihar have a higher concentration of junior faculty.

Challenges:

• Declining PTR in some states: Bihar, Jharkhand, MP, and Chhattisgarh witnessed a deterioration in PTR between 2011-12 and 2021-22.
• Focus on Quality: Need to shift from solely focusing on access to higher education to delivering world-class education.

Recommendations:

• Targeted Policies: Implementing targeted policies to recruit and train more educators in lagging states.
• Improving Quality: Strengthening state public universities to deliver high-quality education.
• Meeting Enrollment Targets: Achieving the government’s target of doubling higher education enrollment by 2047.