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Context

India has made strides in enrolling girls in schools, with girls comprising 48% of the school population. However, the National Sample Survey (NSS) 80th Round (April–June 2025) reveals a gender gap in education expenditure, with families spending significantly less on girls than boys across all school stages and in both rural and urban areas.

What Does the NSS Report Show?

The NSS 80th Round survey shows families prioritize boys’ education over girls’ in terms of spending on course fees, textbooks, stationery, uniforms, transportation, and private tuition.  

Expenditure Gaps

In rural India, families spend ₹1,373 (18%) more on boys than girls for school-related expenses. In urban areas, the gap is ₹2,791, with boys receiving 30% more at the higher secondary level. Course fees alone show a 21.5% higher expenditure on boys nationwide.

School Choice

58.4% of girls attend government schools (often free), compared to 34% of boys in private unaided schools. Only 29.5% of girls access private schools.  

Private Tuition

26% of girls and 27.8% of boys take tuition classes, but families spend 22% more on boys’ tuition at the higher secondary level.

State Variations

High Gender Gaps

Delhi (65% girls vs 54% boys in government schools; 26.6% girls vs 38.8% boys in private schools), Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab show gaps exceeding 10 percentage points.  

Balanced States

Tamil Nadu and Kerala have near-equal enrolment ratios in government and private schools. Northeastern states often send more girls to private schools.

Tuition Gaps

In Himachal Pradesh, families spend ₹9,813 per boy on tuition at higher secondary compared to ₹1,550 per girl. Similar gaps exist in Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.

Why Does the Gender Gap in Education Exist?

Societal Bias

Cultural norms prioritize boys as future breadwinners, viewing girls’ education as less critical due to expectations of early marriage.

Poverty

Low-income families invest less in girls' education, limiting access to quality schooling, especially in rural areas.

Families prefer costlier private schools for boys, while girls are sent to free government schools, limiting their access to quality education.

Safety and infrastructure

Concerns about harassment and violence on the way to and at school, along with a lack of separate, clean sanitation facilities, cause higher dropout rates for girls, especially after puberty.

Challenges in India’s School Education System

Quality and Pedagogy

Rote Learning: Emphasis on memorization over critical thinking and creativity.

Outdated Curriculum: Curriculum often fails to align with modern workforce demands, creating a skills gap.

Low Learning Outcomes: Many students, especially in primary grades, lack basic literacy and numeracy skills despite high enrollment. 

Infrastructure and Resources

Learning Poverty: 76.6% of Class 3 students cannot read a Class 2-level text (ASER Report), and India’s learning poverty rate rose to 70% post-COVID-19 from 55% in 2019 (World Bank).

Teacher Shortages: Over 1 million teacher vacancies exist, with states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reporting over 100,000 each. Pupil-teacher ratios reach 47:1 in some areas. (UDISE+ Report)

Infrastructure Gaps: Only 43.5% of government schools have computers, compared to 70.9% of private schools. 1.52 lakh schools lack electricity, and 67,000 lack functional toilets. (UDISE+ Report)

Regional Disparities: States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have high dropout rates, while West Bengal has limited secondary education access. (UDISE+ Report)  

Equity and Access

Social Inequality: Disparities persist based on socio-economic status, gender, and geography, limiting access to quality education.

Urban-Rural Gap: Stark differences in educational quality and resource availability between urban and rural areas.

High Dropout Rates: Socio-economic factors and poor education quality contribute to significant dropout rates, especially among girls. 

Government Initiatives Addressing Gender Gaps

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: Promotes girls’ education through awareness and subsidies, reducing financial burdens on families.

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Integrates schemes to improve girls’ enrolment and retention, with a focus on infrastructure and teacher training.

PM-POSHAN Scheme: Provides meals to enhance girls’ attendance and nutrition, addressing dropout risks.

NIPUN Bharat Mission: Targets foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3, benefiting girls in early education.

E-Vidya and DIKSHA: Offer digital learning resources to improve access, especially for girls in remote areas.

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs): Residential schools providing free education to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Way Forward to Bridge the Gender Gap

Efficient Funding

Increase in public investment in education (towards 6% of GDP, under NEP 2020), coupled with improved "efficiency in use of available budget" and transparent financial management.  

Increase Awareness

Launch campaigns to challenge societal biases prioritizing boys’ education, emphasizing equal returns on girls’ education.

Enhance Subsidies

Expand scholarships and free transport for girls, especially in rural areas, to reduce dropout rates and offset costs.

Promote Equal School Access

Incentivize private schools to enroll more girls through tax benefits or quotas, balancing enrolment ratios.  

Strengthening Teacher Ecosystem

Invest in comprehensive teacher training, fill vacancies, offer incentives for rural service.

Strengthen Infrastructure

Ensure all schools have functional toilets and safe transport, addressing girls’ safety concerns.  

Regulate Tuition Costs

Cap private tuition fees and promote affordable coaching for girls to close the expenditure gap.  

Leverage NGOs

Partner with organizations like Bal Raksha Bharat to provide learning centers and digital support for girls in underserved areas.  

Conclusion

Despite progress in girls’ enrolment, the gender gap in education expenditure reveals ongoing societal biases and structural challenges. By enhancing subsidies, improving infrastructure, and challenging biases through awareness, India can ensure equitable investment in girls’ education, aligning with NEP 2020’s vision of inclusive and quality education for all.    

Source: THE HINDU