Escaping India’s Endless Struggle: Strategies to Break the Sisyphean Cycle

The story of Sisyphus from Greek mythology is well-known. Sisyphus was punished by the gods to push a huge boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down each time he got close to the top. In India, tackling challenges in education and employment can often feel similar. Progress is made, but the finish line always seems just out of reach.

For example, India has achieved a nearly perfect Gross Enrollment Rate of children aged 3-10 in primary schools. However, the results in learning outcomes are still a major concern. Unlike Sisyphus, though, India’s efforts have brought some positive changes.

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 shows recovery from learning losses caused by COVID-19. In 2022, only 16.3% of Class 3 students could read a simple Class 2 text. Today, that number is up to 23.4%. Similarly, the percentage of Class 3 students who could perform basic subtraction has risen from 26% to 34%.

Many of these improvements are the highest we’ve seen since we started measuring them, including before the pandemic in 2018. Government schools, which serve many of the poorest children, have shown significant progress. For instance, the reading ability of Class 3 students in government schools improved from 20.9% in 2018 to 23.4% now. Their ability to do basic subtraction also grew from 28.2% to 33.7%.

Early childhood education (ECE) is another bright spot. Research shows that 85% of a child’s brain development occurs between ages 3 and 6. Engaging children during this time is crucial. The number of 3-year-olds enrolled in preschool has increased from 68.1% in 2018 to 77.4% now.

The success of these initiatives comes from efforts by the Government of India as well as state governments. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlighted the importance of ECE and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), which involves the ability to read simple texts and perform basic math. In 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the NIPUN Bharat Mission to boost FLN.

This mission was funded with over ₹13,000 crores, helping states introduce innovative teaching materials and train teachers. This funding is vital, as many state education budgets focus on salaries and infrastructure rather than improving learning quality.

Uttar Pradesh has embraced the NIPUN initiative, building on its earlier Mission Prerna. Government school students in Class 3, who could read Class 2 texts, increased from 7.2% in 2016 to 27.9% now. Similarly, those who can perform subtraction rose from 7.9% to 31.6%. Madhya Pradesh also showed improvements, with nearly a 50% rise from 2018 levels for basic math skills.

These developments are encouraging, but there is still much work to be done. India needs quality schooling for all to aim for a prosperous future by 2047. The NIPUN Bharat Mission has made a significant impact, and extending it for another five years is essential. Increased investment in ECE is also critical to maintain the momentum.

The country needs a NIPUN 2.0, focused on scaling up the initiative in states. This will require commitment from state leaders and collaboration with organizations working alongside the government in education.

Currently, India spends about 3.25% of its education budget on ECE, while other lower-middle-income countries spend about 6.5%. It should double its ECE budget to over ₹60,000 crore and create a dedicated mission for it. Every school should include a pre-primary section, and increasing funding would allow for hiring additional trained workers in anganwadi centers. This strategy has been shown to improve outcomes in early childhood education. Better childcare will also allow more women to join the workforce, enhancing household incomes.

India has the potential to reach its goals in education. The boulder may be heavy, but with persistence and clear focus, it can be moved to the top of the hill.

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