As India aspires to become a developed nation by 2047, the numbers from Uttar Pradesh serve as a harsh reminder of the deep-rooted challenges that must be tackled to achieve universal access to education.

Education is often hailed as the foundation for a nation’s progress, yet for Uttar Pradesh, the numbers tell a grim story.

As of 2024-25, over 1.17 million children in India have been identified as out-of-school, with Uttar Pradesh alone accounting for a staggering 784,228—a number that surpasses the combined totals of Jharkhand (65,070) and Assam (63,848).

This glaring disparity reflects a crisis that extends beyond mere statistics. It highlights systemic inefficiencies, misplaced priorities, and the failure of governance to address the most basic needs of its people.

Despite the Ministry of Education’s adoption of digital tools like the PRABANDH portal to track these figures, the reality on the ground remains grim. These children, categorized as out-of-school for being absent for more than 45 days or never having enrolled, represent not just a failure in policy but a betrayal of their right to education.

As India aspires to become a developed nation by 2047, the numbers from Uttar Pradesh serve as a harsh reminder of the deep-rooted challenges that must be tackled to achieve universal access to education.

The Silent Cost of Governance Neglect

Uttar Pradesh’s education crisis is not just a matter of inadequate resources; it is a result of governance neglect.

While the state government often touts its achievements in infrastructure development and industrial growth, education consistently takes a backseat.

In 2024-25, only 3.2% of Uttar Pradesh’s state GDP was allocated to education, far below the 6% benchmark recommended by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This underfunding directly impacts the quality of education, teacher training, and the ability to retain students in schools.

Moreover, implementation of existing schemes such as Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has been riddled with inefficiencies. Data from the PRABANDH portal reveals that despite significant investments, dropout rates among children aged 6-14 remain alarmingly high, particularly in rural areas.

Reports indicate that over 60% of the out-of-school children in Uttar Pradesh belong to families earning less than ₹5,000 per month, underscoring the socioeconomic dimension of this crisis. This neglect is not just about numbers; it’s about missed opportunities for millions of children. Inadequate monitoring, bureaucratic delays, and corruption in fund utilization further exacerbate the problem.

It is imperative for policymakers to recognize that without prioritizing education, Uttar Pradesh cannot hope to break the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment that plagues much of its population.

Digital Tools but Analog Problems: The PRABANDH Portal’s Limited Reach

The Ministry of Education’s PRABANDH portal was envisioned as a game-changer, providing real-time tracking of out-of-school children across states. However, its efficacy in Uttar Pradesh has been limited.

While the portal reported 784,228 out-of-school children in 2024-25, education experts believe this figure may underrepresent the true scale of the problem. Ground-level data collection often suffers from inconsistencies, with many schools lacking the digital infrastructure needed to update records accurately.

Additionally, the portal’s reliance on state governments to provide timely updates has created a bottleneck. In Uttar Pradesh, where internet penetration in rural areas hovers at just 34%, according to a 2024 TRAI report, the digital divide significantly hampers the effectiveness of such tools.

This technological gap disproportionately affects rural schools, which are already grappling with teacher shortages and inadequate facilities. The PRABANDH portal’s shortcomings highlight the need for a hybrid approach that combines digital innovation with robust on-ground monitoring mechanisms.

Without addressing these fundamental issues, Uttar Pradesh risks falling further behind in its goal to ensure every child’s right to education.

Gender Disparities Worsened by Inaction

While the overall numbers for out-of-school children are alarming, a closer look reveals a troubling gender disparity. According to data from the UDISE+ portal for 2024-25, girls constitute nearly 58% of the out-of-school population in Uttar Pradesh.

Cultural norms, safety concerns, and the burden of domestic responsibilities often force families to prioritize boys’ education over girls’. Despite schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, their impact in Uttar Pradesh has been minimal due to poor implementation and lack of community engagement.

For instance, 70% of rural families surveyed in a 2025 report by the Azim Premji Foundation cited financial constraints and lack of nearby schools as reasons for not sending their daughters to school.

This disparity is most pronounced in districts like Shravasti and Bahraich, where female literacy rates lag far behind the state average. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach. Investments in school infrastructure, especially in rural areas, must be coupled with awareness campaigns to challenge regressive social norms.

Financial incentives for families to educate their daughters, along with stringent measures to ensure their safety during school commutes, can also play a crucial role in bridging this gap.

Uttar Pradesh’s Skewed Budget Priorities

Education is often termed the great equalizer, but Uttar Pradesh’s budgetary priorities suggest otherwise. In 2024-25, the state spent ₹10,000 crore on road development but allocated less than half that amount to education.

This imbalance raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to its younger generation. The issue is not just about the amount spent but how it is spent.

A 2025 CAG audit revealed that nearly 30% of allocated education funds in Uttar Pradesh remained unutilized due to bureaucratic delays and lack of accountability.

Meanwhile, public schools in rural areas operate with inadequate teaching staff, outdated curricula, and crumbling infrastructure. This skewed allocation reflects a broader governance failure. By prioritizing visible projects like highways and airports over foundational sectors like education, the state risks undermining its long-term development goals.

Policymakers must recognize that without a well-educated population, the economic benefits of infrastructure development will remain inaccessible to a significant portion of the population.

Forgotten Voices: The Socioeconomic Fallout on Families

The impact of Uttar Pradesh’s education crisis extends beyond schools, affecting families and communities at large.

A 2025 UNICEF study revealed that children who remain out-of-school are 40% more likely to engage in child labor, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting economic mobility.

In districts like Hardoi and Sitapur, over 50% of families with out-of-school children reported financial distress as a primary reason for their inability to prioritize education. The lack of education also has intergenerational consequences. Parents with limited literacy skills are less likely to support their children’s educational pursuits, further entrenching socioeconomic disparities.

This issue is compounded in marginalized communities, where access to government schemes remains minimal due to bureaucratic hurdles and social stigma. Solving this crisis requires a grassroots approach. Community-based interventions, such as local education committees and partnerships with NGOs, can play a pivotal role in re-engaging out-of-school children.

Without addressing these underlying socioeconomic factors, Uttar Pradesh’s education crisis will continue to hinder its development trajectory.

To Conclude: Is There a Way Out?

Uttar Pradesh’s out-of-school children crisis is not just a reflection of policy failure but a call to action for systemic reform.

From improving budget allocation and addressing gender disparities to enhancing digital tools and tackling socioeconomic barriers, the solutions are as complex as the problem itself.

As India marches toward its centenary of independence in 2047, the question remains:

Will Uttar Pradesh rise to the challenge and prioritize education as the cornerstone of its development strategy?