Literacy rate marginally up since 2011 survey, 71% literacy in rural India, 86% in urban

Literacy rate marginally up since 2011 survey, 71% literacy in rural India, 86% in urban

Thursday July 02, 2015,

4 min Read

Literacy rate in rural areas was pegged at 71 per cent last year, compared to 86 per cent in urban areas, while among the age group of seven years and above, male literacy rate was found higher than the female literacy rate, according to NSSO survey. The survey was conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.


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Among the age group of seven year and above, the male literacy rate was registered at 83 per cent vis-a-vis the female literacy rate of 67 per cent, an official statement said.

It was found in the rural areas, nearly 4.5 per cent of males and 2.2 per cent of females completed education level of graduation and above, while in urban areas 17 per cent of males and 13 per cent of females completed this level of education.

The survey covered entire country with samples taken from 36,479 households in rural areas and 29,447 in urban areas from 4,577 villages and 3,720 urban blocks, it said.

According to its findings, literacy rate among age group of seven years and above in the country was 75 per cent. Adult literacy (age 15 years and above) rate in India was around 71 per cent. For adults also, literacy rate in rural areas was lower than that in urban areas. In rural areas, adult literacy rate was 64 per cent compared to 84 per cent in urban areas.

Nearly 86 per cent of rural households and 96 per cent of urban households reported upper primary schools within a distance of 2 kms from the house while nearly 60 per cent of rural households and 91 per cent of urban households reported secondary schools at such a distance, it revealed.

The proportion of persons having completed higher level of education, say, graduation and above, was more in the urban areas than in the rural areas. In the rural areas, nearly 4.5 per cent of males and 2.2 per cent of females completed education level of graduation and above, while in the urban areas 17 per cent of males and 13 per cent of females completed this level of education.

In rural areas, majority of the students were attending government institutions predominantly up to higher secondary levels, whereas a completely different picture was observed in urban areas.

In rural areas, 72 per cent of the students at primary level, 76 per cent at upper primary level and 64 per cent at secondary and higher secondary level attended government institutions, the survey said. While in urban areas, 31 per cent at primary level, 38 per cent at upper primary level as well as secondary and higher secondary level, attended government institutions, it added.

Average expenditure per student incurred and/or to be incurred during the current academic session was nearly Rs 6,788 for general education, Rs 62,841 for technical/ professional (except vocational) and Rs 27,676 for vocational course. At primary level, expenditure per student in urban areas was Rs 10,083, more than four times than that in rural areas, pegged at Rs 2,811.

Average expenditure on technical education in private aided and unaided institutions varied between nearly 1.5-2.5 times of that in government institutions. Nearly 46 per cent of expenditure for general education and 73 per cent of the expenditure for technical education was on course fee.

For students pursuing general courses, 15 per cent was spent on private coaching as against 3 per cent for students pursuing technical/professional education (including vocational). Nearly 6 per cent of rural households and 29 per cent of urban household possessed computer. Among households in the country, with at least one member aged above 14 years and above, nearly 27 per cent had internet access in the survey year, 2014.

The proportions were 16 per cent among rural households and 49 per cent of urban households, the survey said. Among persons of age 14-29 years, nearly 18 per cent in rural areas and 49 per cent in urban areas were able to operate a computer, it added.

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