Is India’s Education System Losing Its Appeal Among Students?

A concerning trend is emerging from classrooms across the nation: students are increasingly losing interest in studies.

A recent nationwide survey reveals that only 55% of students in Classes 6 to 8 find enjoyment in attending school. Even more alarming is that just 53% of students in higher secondary (Class 11 and 12) classes find learning interesting. The findings paint a worrying picture of disengagement at the core of India’s education system.

The National Achievement Survey (NAS), conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), assessed over 21.15 lakh students from Classes 3, 5, 8, and 10 across 74,229 schools in India. The aim? To evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum and identify areas where students are struggling or disengaged.

Some key insights from the survey:

• In Kerala, only 31% of students in Classes 9–10 reported enjoying their studies.
• Nationally, only 28% of students in this segment expressed a similar feeling.
• A staggering 46% of students across India say they do not enjoy school at all.

The numbers clearly highlight a deeper issue in our learning environment — one that requires immediate attention from educators, parents, and policymakers alike.

📉 National-Level Trends

• Average Interest Score Across India: The average percentage of students who enjoy studies across the 35 listed states and UTs is around 41%.
• That means nearly 6 out of 10 students are not interested in their academic journey.
• The lower interest in higher grades indicates a systemic issue in curriculum relevance, pedagogy, and assessment models.

🏆 States with Higher Student Interest (Above 50%)

Observations:

• Smaller UTs and hill states perform better in student interest.
• These regions may benefit from less competition, better teacher-student ratios, and simplified academic environments.
• Focus on emotional well-being and student-centered learning could be contributing to higher engagement.

🚨 States with Alarming Disinterest (Below 35%)

Observations:

• Several Northeastern states show very low engagement, pointing to language barriers, lack of digital content, and geographical isolation.
• Kerala's 31% is surprisingly low given its high literacy rate, suggesting discontent with rote-based learning, exam-centric culture, and overemphasis on marks.
• Bihar and Jharkhand also score low, which may relate to infrastructure issues and lack of real-world connection in studies.

Root Causes Behind Disengagement

From the data and state-wise reasons, a few common themes emerge:

Why Does This Matter?
If more than half our students are uninterested in learning, we risk creating a generation of young minds who are disconnected, unmotivated, and ill-equipped to face the challenges of tomorrow.

At SkoolGuru, we believe the root cause lies not in the students but in how we teach them. The traditional classroom model, overly reliant on rote memorization and exam pressure, often overlooks curiosity, creativity, and real-life relevance — all vital to keeping students engaged.

What Can Be Done?
This wake-up call should inspire us to reimagine the future of education in India:

• Personalized learning paths to cater to each child’s strengths.
• Integration of AI and interactive tools to make learning engaging.
• A shift from marks to mastery-based learning.
• Teachers trained in modern pedagogical approaches.

The data doesn’t lie. It’s time to reignite the joy of learning.

Let’s not just teach. Let’s inspire. 💡

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