In the past four years, there has been a 16% increase in the number of girl students being conferred degrees in the 26 government universities of Uttar Pradesh, showed data shared by Governor Ram Naik, who is also the chancellor of all state universities.

Trends

• Girls left behind boys in bagging medals awarded during convocation ceremonies
• In the academic session 2015-16, the share of degrees conferred on girl candidates in state universities was 40%. This increased to 56% in the academic session 2018-19.
• Besides, more than 65% of medals have been bagged by girl students during convocation ceremonies held at these universities over the same period. In four universities, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University of Agra, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in Varanasi and Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University in Kanpur, girls have won more than 80% medals.
• credit for excellence of girl students in education can be attributed to the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' programme.
• In 2017-18, around 15.6 lakh students were conferred degrees while in 2018-19, the number has come down to 12.78 lakh. The analysis of the data reveals that the drop of 2.81 lakh students is due to the strict anti-copying measures taken and students not qualifying examination.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA):

It is Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, as mandated by 86th amendment to the Constitution of India making free and compulsory Education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a Fundamental Right.

• It is being implemented in partnership with State Governments to cover the entire country and address the needs of 192 million children in 1.1 million habitations.
• It seeks to open new schools in those habitations which do not have schooling facilities and strengthen existing school infrastructure through provision of additional class rooms, toilets, drinking water, maintenance grant and school improvement grants.
• Existing schools with inadequate teacher strength are provided with additional teachers, while the capacity of existing teachers is being strengthened by extensive training, grants for developing teaching-learning materials and strengthening of the academic support structure at a cluster, block and district level.
• It also seeks to provide quality elementary education including life skills. SSA has a special focus on girl’s education and children with special needs. SSA also seeks to provide computer education to bridge the digital divide.