“A Study on Structure, Enrolment and Literacy Rate of School Education in Sikkim State, India”

Abstract

Sikkim, a state in the Himalayas known for its challenging terrain and rich cultural heritage, offers a distinctive educational environment with a diverse landscape. As per data from the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, Sikkim (2018-19), there are 1289 schools in total. Furthermore, the purpose of the study is to study Sikkim's school system, with specific focus to key aspects including school structure, student enrolment, and literacy rates. Hence, this paper is descriptive in nature. The educational framework in Sikkim includes 768 government schools, 417 private schools, 7 central schools, and 97 monastic schools. Across all districts, there are 73,099 female students enrolled, constituting roughly 49.91% of the total student populace, while 73,370 male students make up about 50.09%. Thus, there is almost an equal distribution of male and female students across districts. India has improved its literacy rates significantly as a whole, and this trend is visible between 1951 and 2023. Sikkim in particular has shown remarkable progress, regularly surpassing the national norm and reaching a notably high literacy rate by 2023. The literacy rates in the North-eastern states of India have seen significant growth over time, with Mizoram consistently leading the region in literacy rates.  In addition to the state's initiatives, educational accessibility has significantly improved, which has increased student enrolment at all levels. However, there are still issues, particularly in rural areas, such as physical obstacles and inadequate facilities. Based to this study, if the state wants to significantly improve the performance of students, it must give the most priority to infrastructure, teacher preparation, and curriculum improvement.