Gujarat’s education sector has come under the spotlight after the Central Government’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Progress Report highlighted significant gaps in school education, higher education enrollment and student learning outcomes. The report shows that Gujarat is performing below the national average across several key education indicators, raising concerns about student retention, access to higher education and classroom learning.
The findings suggest that despite Gujarat’s reputation as one of India’s fastest-growing states economically, the education sector continues to face major challenges that require urgent attention.
Gujarat Trails National Average in Grade 12 Completion
One of the biggest concerns highlighted in the report is Gujarat’s Grade 12 completion rate. According to the SDG Progress Report for 2024-25, only 50.82% of students in Gujarat complete their higher secondary education. This is significantly lower than the national average of 61.14%.
The data indicates that 49.18% of students in Gujarat do not complete Class 12, meaning nearly one out of every two students drops out before finishing higher secondary education. Gujarat trails the national average by more than 10 percentage points, pointing to serious challenges in retaining students until the end of school.
Higher Secondary Enrollment Also Remains Low
The report also highlights weak participation in higher secondary education. Gujarat’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher secondary education for 2024-25 stands at 47.3%, while the national average is 58.4%.
This means that more than 52% of eligible students in Gujarat are not enrolled in higher secondary education, reflecting a major gap in educational participation.
Gujarat Ranks 23rd in College Enrollment
The transition from school to college appears to be another area of concern. According to the report’s provisional data for 2022-23, Gujarat’s Gross Enrollment Ratio in tertiary (college) education is 26.2%, compared to the national average of 29.5%.
The figures show that nearly 73.8% of eligible students remain outside the formal higher education system. With this performance, Gujarat ranks 23rd among all States and Union Territories in terms of college enrollment.
Primary and Upper Primary Enrollment Still Below Expectations
The report also points to gaps in school enrollment at the foundational level. Gujarat’s Net Enrollment Ratio (NER) stands at:
77.9% at the primary level
67.5% at the upper primary level
These numbers suggest that a considerable number of children remain outside the formal school system even before reaching secondary education.
Learning Outcomes Raise Serious Concerns
The report’s findings on classroom learning are among the most worrying. According to the PARAKH National Survey, students in Gujarat consistently score below the national average in both language and mathematics across Classes 3, 6 and 9.
Class 3 Performance
Language proficiency: Gujarat – 46% | National average – 61%
Mathematics proficiency: Gujarat – 38% | National average – 54%
Class 6 Performance
The performance declines further by Class 6.
Language proficiency: Gujarat – 22% | National average – 33%
Mathematics proficiency: Gujarat – 23% | National average – 38%
Class 9 Performance
The report records the most concerning results in Class 9.
Language proficiency: Gujarat – 24% | National average – 31%
Mathematics proficiency: Gujarat – 3% | National average – 11%
The mathematics score of just 3% indicates a significant learning gap among secondary school students in Gujarat.
Education Challenges Across Every Stage
The cumulative findings of the SDG report suggest that Gujarat faces difficulties throughout the entire education system. The challenges include:
Retaining students until Class 12.
Increasing enrollment in higher secondary education.
Improving college participation.
Enhancing classroom learning outcomes in language and mathematics.
Ensuring more children remain within the formal school system from the primary level onwards.
Congress Cites Centre’s Data to Criticise Education Policies
Speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Parthivraj Kathwadia said that the Central Government’s own SDG statistics reveal the declining condition of education in Gujarat.
He argued that the state’s education sector requires structural reforms and said Gujarat should move beyond what he described as excessive privatisation and commercialisation of education.
Kathwadia also called for greater involvement of education experts to build a stronger, quality-focused education system capable of preparing future generations.
Focus Shifts to Quality of Education
The SDG Progress Report has once again shifted attention from infrastructure development and enrollment drives to broader issues such as the quality of education, student retention and actual learning outcomes.
While Gujarat continues to project itself as a leader in economic development, the latest education indicators suggest that strengthening human capital through better schooling, improved learning standards and greater access to higher education remains an equally important challenge.
The Central Government’s SDG Progress Report paints a concerning picture of Gujarat’s education sector. From lower-than-average school completion rates and weak higher secondary and college enrollment to poor learning outcomes in language and mathematics, the state faces challenges at nearly every stage of the education journey.
The report underscores the need for comprehensive reforms aimed not only at increasing enrollment but also at improving the quality of education, reducing dropout rates and ensuring that students acquire the skills and knowledge needed for higher education and future employment.
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