Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken on Sunday claimed that the number of students appearing for and passing Class XII in Delhi government schools has decreased compared to when his party was in power.
During a press conference, Maken said that from 2008-09 to 2013-14, the number of students passing in government schools was rising every year, increasing from 75,974 to 1.47 lakh."As soon as they (AAP) came to power, the number of students passing Class XII started to decline," Maken claimed.
"In 2014-15, it reduced to 1.23 lakh,1.02 lakh in 2017-18, and 1.09 lakh in 2019-20. Later, it increased to 1.46 lakh in 2023-24, which can be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, as all the parents shifted their children from private schools and sent them to government schools, " he said.However, he argued that this increase was still less than the 2013-14 numbers."
He also claimed that in 2013-14, the number of students appearing for exams was 1.66 lakh, while in 2023-24, the number dropped to 1.51 lakh, a decrease of 15,000 students. Maken stated that in 2013-14, when they lost the elections, four lakh more students were studying in government schools compared to private schools.
"In 2009-10, there were 14.66 lakh students in government schools and 12.28 lakh in private schools. By 2013-14, the number had increased to 17.75 lakh in government schools, while private schools had 13.57 lakh students. After that, children have been leaving government schools for private ones every year," he said.
He noted that for the first time, the number of students in private schools surpassed those in government schools. "In 2018-19, there were 16.61 lakh students in private schools, compared to 16.47 lakh in government schools," he added.
"In 2009-10, the number was 14.66 lakh students for government schools and 12.28 lakh for private schools. While it was 13.57 lakh for private schools and 17.75 lakh for government school in 2013-14. After that, children are going from government schools are going to private schools every year," he stated.
Futher talking about Delhi's air pollution, Maken said that the main cause was the large number of vehicles on the roads due to the disrupted public transport system, and not stubble burning by farmers.
Delhi roads see around 1,800 new vehicles daily, with vehicles accounting for the largest contribution to the toxic air. The reason for the increase in private vehicles on the road, he said, was the reduction in the passenger-carrying capacity of the DTC.
