Sasaram: Student enrolment in govt schools across Rohtas district has remained stagnant at around 4.45 lakh over the past three academic years, even as individual classes recorded sharp increases and declines, according to education department figures.Total enrolment from Classes I to XII stood at 4,45,629 in 2024-25, fell to 4,44,846 in 2025-26 and rose marginally to 4,45,124 in 2026-27. The latest figure is 278 higher than the previous academic year but 505 below the 2024-25 level.District Information Officer (DIO) Madan Rai said the overall enrolment figure had not changed significantly over the past three years, though there were variations across classes. He said enrolment had declined in some classes and increased in others, and the department would review the variations to ascertain the reasons.However, class-wise figures show substantial variations. Class I enrolment has more than doubled from 15,306 in 2024-25 to 30,874 in 2026-27, an increase of 15,568 students. Class IX recorded an even sharper rise, with enrolment increasing by 19,907, from 16,840 to 36,747 over the same period.Class VI enrolment increased by 4,013, from 34,751 in 2024-25 to 38,764 in 2026-27. Class XII also recorded a substantial increase, from 21,693 students in 2024-25 to 38,875 in 2026-27. However, the latest figure was lower than the 40,129 students recorded in 2025-26.In contrast, enrolment declined in Classes II to V. Class II recorded a fall of 818 students, Class III 11,672, Class IV 12,434 and Class V 12,142 over the three-year period. Class II enrolment fell from 35,146 in 2024-25 to 30,823 in 2025-26 before recovering to 34,328 in 2026-27. Class III enrolment declined from 45,373 in 2024-25 to 33,701 in 2026-27.Classes X and XI also recorded declines of 7,968 and 8,203 students, respectively. Class VIII had 44,750 students in 2024-25. Enrolment declined the following year before recovering in 2026-27, though the report does not provide the figures for the latter two years in the copy.Block-wise figures also reveal contrasting trends. Dinara recorded an increase of 4,682 students, followed by Nokha with 1,759, Tilouthu with 1,647 and Karghar with 1,393. Bikramganj recorded a decline of 3,030 students, followed by Kochas with 2,141, Sasaram with 1,618 and Nasriganj with 1,585.Meanwhile, a senior education department official, requesting anonymity, said poor infrastructure and the quality of education in govt schools were forcing parents to send their children to nearby private schools.chamaria_alokad@yahoo.co.in
