What is UDISE - Unified District Information System for Education

The Indian education system is a large and complex network of government and private schools that caters to crores of students across India. With more than 95 lakh educators present across the country, the education system spans from pre-primary to higher secondary. This massive network of schools, educators, students and administrations, it is crucial to maintain a credible database for objective evaluation of the system.

What is UDISE?

UDISE stands for Unified District Information System for Education. UDISE was launched in 2012-13, to collect comprehensive school-wise data on school particulars, student enrolment, physical infrastructure and teachers among other factors. It has now become the only data source to obtain credible information regarding any school in India.

Why was UDISE established?

The need to design and develop a credible database was first identified in the early 90s. The District Information System for Education (DISE) was created for classes 1 to 5 for planning and monitoring primary education in 7 states. Soon, this was expanded to cover elementary education. Around 2008-09, Secondary Education Management Information System (SEMIS) was started to collect data for secondary education (classes 9 to 12).

To make data collection seamless, a known as the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE). Today, UDISE has overcome several limitations and the Department of School Education Literacy (DoSEL) has further advanced it.

With these changes, the new UDISE+ system was launched in 2018-19 with unique features and improvised data capture, data mapping and data verification systems. To enable real time exchange of information, online uploading of UDISE+ data has also been made compulsory.

What type of data UDISE collects?

UDISE collects a variety of data pertaining to schools across India:

• Details of teaching and non-teaching staff
• Details of student enrolments
• Gross enrolment ratio centralised system was established in 2012-13 by integrating DISE and SEMIS. This centralised system was
• Net enrolment ratio
• Dropout rate
• Transition rate
• Retention rate
• Promotion rate
• Enrolment of Minority groups
• Details of Infrastructure facilities
• Details of digital initiatives
• Population projection

Benefits of UDISE

UDISE is a comprehensive data collection, analysis, and monitoring system for school education in India. Here are the key benefits of UDISE:

1. Centralised data collection

UDISE collects consistent and standardized data from all schools across the country — government, private, and aided. This makes it the largest school database in India.

2. Informed policy-making

The data helps the central and state governments, policymakers make evidence-based decisions for resource allocation, infrastructure development and curriculum planning.

3. Real-time monitoring

With the introduction of UDISE+, real-time updates allow for timely tracking of enrolment, dropouts and school infrastructure, leading to faster interventions.

4. Improved school planning and resource allocation

UDISE data helps in micro-level planning by providing details like teacher-student ratios, classroom availability and basic amenities. It supports equitable distribution of educational resources by identifying gaps in access, quality and infrastructure across different regions.

5. Greater transparency and accountability

By making school data publicly available, UDISE enhances transparency in the functioning of schools and helps ensure accountability at all administrative levels.

6. Supports UN SDG Goals

UDISE aligns with India’s efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by tracking progress and identifying areas of improvement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, UDISE plays a vital role in shaping the educational landscape of India by offering a reliable, comprehensive and centralized data system. It enables informed decision-making, facilitates effective planning and helps monitor the progress of schools across the country. With the advent of UDISE+, the system has become more dynamic, allowing real-time tracking and greater transparency. Ultimately, UDISE is a cornerstone for building a more equitable, efficient and quality-driven school education system in India.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the objective of UDISE?

The main aim of UDISE is to make use of the collected data for educational planning, efficient allocation of resources, execution of various education-related schemes, and monitoring the progress achieved.

Q2. What UDISE is used for?

UDISE (Unified District Information System for Education) is a comprehensive database containing information about schools across India. It was created by the Department of School Education under the Ministry of Education and is maintained by the National Informatics Centre, Government of India.

Q3. Is UDISE mandatory?

As stated on the official UDISE+ website, it is compulsory for all schools providing elementary education in India to be included under the UDISE+ system.

References

1. Report on Unified District Information System for Education plus (udise+) 2020-21

2. Report on Unified District Information System for Education plus (udise+)2021-22

3. UDISE+