MP Sees Surge in Public School Enrolments, But Learning Gaps Persist
By Tina Khatri | April 2, 2026
Madhya Pradesh aims to enrol 1.45 crore students in public schools this academic session, reflecting rising parental trust. Yet, behind this surge lies a worrying gap: many students continue to lag in foundational literacy and numeracy.
The state has invested heavily to encourage attendance, allocating ₹250 crore for laptops, ₹100 crore for scooters, and ₹210 crore for bicycles. While these measures have increased enrolments by 32.4 per cent last year, education experts warn that incentives do not automatically improve core learning outcomes.
32.4%
Enrollment Jump
Record high parental trust in govt schools.
39%
Fluency Rate
Only 39% of Class 3 meet reading benchmarks.
The Stark Reality of NIPUN Bharat Results
Recent assessments paint a sobering picture. Under the NIPUN Bharat Mission, just 22 per cent of Class 3 pupils demonstrate basic numeracy skills. The results for Class 2 are even lower, with only 11 per cent reaching numeracy benchmarks.
Access is the first step, but classroom instruction remains the final frontier.
"Enrolment figures are encouraging, but unless classroom instruction and assessment systems are strengthened, we will continue to see a disconnect between access and actual learning."
— Himanshu Dusane, Educationist & Academic Dean
Sanjay Mishra, district project coordinator for the “School Chale Hum” campaign, noted that while incentives have boosted numbers, trained teachers, remedial support, and robust monitoring are the only ways to translate that access into measurable progress.
The Road Ahead
Educationists in Indore caution that high enrolments alone cannot secure children’s futures. Without improvements in teaching quality and regular progress tracking, gaps in literacy, numeracy, and writing skills are likely to persist, even as public schools gain popularity among families.
Tags: #MPNews #EducationReform #NIPUNBharat #IndoreEducation #PublicSchools #TinaKhatri