In a concerning trend revealed by the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report 2021-22, Punjab’s colleges and universities have witnessed a significant decline in enrollment, losing at least one lakh students over the past five years. The mass migration of youth, particularly to countries like Canada and Australia, has been identified as a primary factor behind this trend.
The data highlights that Punjab’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) has dropped from 29.2 in 2017-18 to 27.4 in 2021-22, a cause for alarm as it falls below the national average of 28.4. Despite a slight uptick in enrollment in the past year, the overall trend is indicative of a serious brain drain issue, with a decline of 30% to 40% in college and university attendance attributed to migration.
Harpreet Dua, senator at Panjab University, emphasized that the slight increase in enrollment numbers is misleading, driven by population growth rather than a reduction in migration. Dua stated, “Punjab is in a serious brain drain trouble,” noting that the migration is not driven by a pursuit of better education but by the aspiration for job opportunities and an improved standard of living abroad.
The AISHE report further reveals that Punjab’s colleges and universities are now grappling with a challenge that extends beyond enrollment numbers, as students who do enroll often drop out midway to pursue opportunities abroad. The situation underscores the urgent need for policymakers to address the underlying factors driving this mass migration and ensure the retention of talented youth within the state.
