What’s Holding Back Girls’ School Enrolment in Chandigarh?
- Oct. 24, 2025, 5:24 p.m.
Girls' enrolment in Chandigarh schools stays lower than that of boys. Based on the information from the Education Department for the year 2024–25, 120475 were girls, constituting about 47% of the total enrolment of 2,53,153 students. The city has 209 schools, including 7 Kendriya Vidyalayas, 7 aided, 84 private, and 111 government schools.
Compared to 67839 girls enrolled in government schools, only 71578 are boys. While 44208 are girls enrolled this year in private schools, 51491 are boys, according to data found by The Indian Express. Currently, Chandigarh accounts for a gender ratio of 818 girls per 1000 boys.
H. Rajesh Prasad, the Chief Secretary, raised concern about the lower enrolment of girls in city schools on Monday (13.10.2025) and guided the department to build up awareness campaigns and community outreach to encourage equal involvement of girls in education.
He also directed the department to follow up on Holistic Performance Cards for all children to achieve overall development and learning outcomes. Highlighting the necessity of teacher quality and availability, he advocated that the department would fill vacant teacher posts without any delay. He called for the 100% closing of compulsory teacher training programmes for improved learning standards and to ensure continuity in teaching as well.
