Enrolment in primary and middle schools of the Chennai Corporation has decreased this year. However, the demand continues to be high in Chennai high schools and higher secondary schools.
The total number of students going to middle and primary schools run by the Chennai Corporation has reduced from 63,641 last year, to 58,929 this year.
Except class III, all other classes registered a dip in total number of students this year when compared to that in 2010-2011. The number of students in class III has increased from 5,926 in 2010-2011 to 5,973 this year.
Teachers said that all the students in Anganwadis across the city do not get enrolled in class I of Chennai primary schools. There is a lack of motivation on the part of parents to get their children admitted to class I of Chennai Schools. Even parents whose kids were admitted to anganwadis have been showing reluctance to enrol their kids in Chennai primary schools for the past few years, said teachers.
The data on enrolment in 2011-2012 clearly displays a tapering strength of Chennai School students over the years. Among middle and primary sections, class VIII has the highest with 10,329 students and class I has the least, with 5,138 students.
Date on student strength in class VIII to class I also indicates that the number new enrolments in class I is on the wane.