Srinagar, Aug. 18 -- Jammu and Kashmir's Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at the higher-secondary level has fallen to 44.8 per cent, highlighting a steep decline in student participation as learners progress through the school system, according to NITI Aayog's latest assessment of school education.

The data shows a consistent drop in enrolment across successive stages of education. The GER stands at 113.7 per cent at the primary level, declines to 77.3 per cent at the upper-primary stage, falls further to 66.1 per cent at the secondary level and reaches 44.8 per cent in Classes XI and XII.

While the figures indicate strong participation at the primary stage, they suggest significant challenges in retaining students through higher levels of s...