Pillar: Education & Training
Higher education enrolment in Darjeeling runs at 41.8%, better than the typical district. The district has 47 colleges. The Government Degree College is often the only accessible, affordable option for local students to continue past school.
86% of registered enterprises are in services while 14% are in manufacturing. Only 9% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 60% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12). Only 26% of ITI trainers are certified.
In Darjeeling, which ranks 3 of 23 in West Bengal for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 52 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on secondary school enrolment in classes 9 to 12 at 76.9% and young people in the labour force aged 15 to 29 at 54.6%, while it lags on youth unemployment aged 15 to 29 at 19%.
Mandated services and how to locate the Government Degree College in Darjeeling are in the Darjeeling district course and the English reference guide (Hindi). See the Darjeeling youth opportunity scorecard for the full district picture.