The number of girl students enrolled in schools in the age group of 11 to 14 years improved significantly in 2011 and nearly 97 per cent of the children aged between 6 to 14 years were enrolled in schools in rural areas. These are the findings of the latest Annual Status of Education Report for the year 2011 released in New Delhi on Monday by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal.

The report says the number of girl students, who are out of schools, has reduced significantly and states like Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have made significant progress in this aspect. It, however, highlights that the basic arithmetic level in school students has registered a decline. The attendance level in schools has also declined from over 73 per cent in 2007 to nearly 70 per cent in 2011. The decline in average attendance is the most in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The report notes that over the years, parents prefer to send their children to private schools and the enrollment in these schools has increased significantly.