AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN SIKKIM

Education is one of the most crucial indices of socio-economic development. In India, higher education is of vital importance to build a knowledge based society of the 21st century. It is the quality of higher education that decides the quality of human resources of the country. Higher education is a very important sector for long term economic growth and development of human resources which leads to the social, economic and scientific development of the country. Sikkim is currently at the stage of an increasing number of enrollments in higher education and the population of young people entering the labour force continues to expand. This young and large growing youth should be educated for the betterment of the nation, state and society. The government has given the required thrust to increase higher education in the state by establishing the number of colleges and universities. Around 20 percent of the budget is being spent on education in Sikkim; the highest among the country for the growth and development of the education system and to bring quality education. The present study attempted to analyse the current status and trends in higher education in Sikkim. The study is solely based on secondary data which is collected from different secondary sources. The results were analysed by using various statistical tools including pie charts, bar diagrams, time series analysis etc. The present study found the growth of higher educational institutes and enrollment in Sikkim. Enrolment in higher education produces skillfulness and competitiveness which are necessary for economic growth and development.