Gross enrolment ratio recorded at 18.8% in India: Survey

Gross enrolment ratio in India stands at an estimated 18.8%, with OBCs recording a respectable 27.1%, according to a provisional survey on higher education released on Friday.

Enrolment ratio among SC students in contrast stood at 10.2% and 4.4% in case of females, it said.

Similarly, enrolment ratio among the teaching staff was more under OBC at 23.3% as compared to 7.4% among SC category and 2.9% in ST category.

The first 'all India survey on higher education' for 2010-11 also said 19,249 foreign students were pursuing education in India and 6,842 of them were female students.

The figures were, however, based on information provided by 489 universities and over 11,000 colleges. The full report will be released on Education Day on November 11.

Releasing the provisional report, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal exuded confidence about attaining the gross enrolment ratio (GER) of 30% by 2020.

"If the figures of all universities are taken into account, then GER would come out to 19.5%. From 12.4 to 19.5 in three years, the figures are phenomenal," he said adding, "it will go much beyond than 30% by 2020".

The survey said while the number of private unaided colleges account for a major share of the total number of colleges at 57%, the enrolment in such colleges is only 38% of the total enrolment in colleges.