Ajay Maken Criticizes AAP’s Education Model, Claims Drop in Class XII Pass Rates in Delhi Government Schools

New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI): All India Congress Committee Treasurer Ajay Maken has alleged a decline in the number of students appearing for and passing Class XII in Delhi government schools since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power.

During a press conference, Maken pointed out that from 2008-09 to 2013-14, when the Congress was in power, the number of students passing Class XII in government schools had steadily increased from 75,974 to 1.47 lakh. However, he claimed that this trend reversed after AAP took office.

Drop in Pass Numbers Under AAP​

According to Maken, the number of students passing Class XII declined in subsequent years:

• 2014-15: 1.23 lakh
• 2017-18: 1.02 lakh
• 2019-20: 1.09 lakh

Although the figure rose again to 1.46 lakh in 2023-24, Maken attributed this increase to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which many parents transferred their children from private to government schools. Despite this, he insisted that the numbers remained below the 2013-14 peak.

"The population of the national capital is increasing, but the number of students passing Class XII is decreasing. This is their education model, which everyone needs to understand,” Maken alleged.

Fewer Students Appearing for Exams​

Maken claimed that a key reason for the decline in passing students was that fewer students were appearing for the exams. He alleged that the AAP government was deliberately failing students in Class XI to maintain a high Class XII pass percentage.

In 2013-14, 1.66 lakh students appeared for the Class XII exams, whereas in 2023-24, this number dropped to 1.51 lakh—a decrease of 15,000 students.

Shift from Government to Private Schools​

Maken also highlighted a mass migration of students from government to private schools, reversing the trend seen under the Congress government. He presented the following data:

• 2009-10:
  • Government schools: 14.66 lakh students
  • Private schools: 12.28 lakh students
• 2013-14:
  • Government schools: 17.75 lakh students
  • Private schools: 13.57 lakh students

However, he alleged that post-2014, more students started leaving government schools, and for the first time, private schools had more students than government schools.

• 2018-19:
  • Private schools: 16.61 lakh
  • Government schools: 16.47 lakh

Maken questioned the AAP government's silence on these figures. "If your education model is so good, why is the number of children passing Class XII decreasing? Why are students shifting to private schools?" he asked.

Delhi’s Rising Air Pollution: AAP's Failure?​

Shifting focus to Delhi's air pollution crisis, Maken blamed the increasing number of private vehicles on the roads, rather than stubble burning by farmers, as claimed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"Kejriwal blamed the farmers for his own incompetence and inability to control air pollution. According to TERI, vehicular emissions, which accounted for 28% of PM 2.5 pollution in 2016, have now risen to 47%," Maken alleged.

He pointed out that Delhi roads witness 1,800 new vehicles daily, with traffic congestion worsening due to a failing public transport system.

DTC’s Shrinking Fleet and Passenger Load​

Maken further accused the AAP government of weakening the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), leading to an increased reliance on private vehicles.

• In 2012-13, under Congress rule, DTC carried 46.77 lakh passengers per day
• By August 2024, this number had dropped to 24.43 lakh passengers

Additionally, he claimed that the number of DTC buses had reduced from 5,609 in 2012-13 to 4,541 in 2024, while DTC depots decreased from 43 to 38. Even with the purchase of new buses, he argued, the lack of depot space would prevent an effective increase in public transport capacity.

With these claims, Maken painted a bleak picture of AAP’s governance in education and transport, accusing the government of failing to maintain progress made during the Congress era.

The AAP government has yet to respond to these allegations.