Decline in Single-Teacher Schools: A Closer Look at Recent Trends

Recent UDISE+ data reveals a notable decline in single-teacher schools across India, with significant reductions in states like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. However, Andhra Pradesh has seen an increase in such schools. The government attributes these changes to various factors, but the reasons behind the overall decline remain unclear. Additionally, improvements in the Pupil-Teacher Ratio suggest a shift in educational dynamics. This article delves into the statistics and implications of these trends in the Indian education system.

By Ambika Singh Aug 9, 2026, 18:50 IST

Overview of Single-Teacher Schools

Recent data from UDISE+ reveals a decrease in single-teacher schools across the nation, with the count dropping from 104,125 in the academic year 2024-25 to 100,843 in 2025-26. This marks a decline of 3,282 schools within just one year.

Significant Reductions in Five States

The data indicates that over 11,000 single-teacher schools were eliminated across five states, which is significantly higher than the national average reduction of 3,282. This suggests that while some states experienced notable decreases, others may have seen increases that affected the overall statistics.

Madhya Pradesh Faces the Largest Decline

Madhya Pradesh has reported the steepest drop in single-teacher schools, falling from 7,217 in 2024-25 to 2,269 in 2025-26, a staggering reduction of 4,948 schools. Chhattisgarh follows with a decrease from 5,973 to 2,461, losing 3,512 schools. Uttar Pradesh also experienced a decline, with numbers dropping from 9,508 to 7,874, a reduction of 1,634 schools. Despite this, Uttar Pradesh still holds the highest number of single-teacher schools among major states. Punjab and Gujarat also saw decreases of 682 and 601 schools, respectively.

Increase in Single-Teacher Schools in Andhra Pradesh

Conversely, Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a rise in single-teacher schools, increasing from 12,912 in 2024-25 to 16,357 in 2025-26, an addition of 3,445 schools. Maharashtra and Rajasthan also reported increases of 1,117 and 1,083 schools, respectively, while Karnataka and Jharkhand saw rises of 693 and 655 schools.

Government's Perspective on Teaching Vacancies

In a recent session of the Rajya Sabha, the central government attributed the reduction in teaching positions to various factors, including retirements, resignations, the establishment of new posts, and changes in student enrollment. However, the government did not provide specific insights into how these factors influenced the states with significant changes in single-teacher school numbers.

Unclear Reasons Behind School Reductions

Experts suggest that while the decrease in single-teacher schools may seem beneficial, it remains unclear whether this is due to the hiring of new teachers or the closure, merger, or reclassification of schools. Thus, the decline in single-teacher schools alone does not provide a complete picture of teacher availability.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio Improvement

The UDISE data also highlights improvements in the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR). For the 2024-25 academic year, the overall PTR was reported at 24 students per teacher. In 2025-26, the breakdown revealed a PTR of 19 at the primary level, 17 at the upper primary level, 15 at the secondary level, and 23 at the higher secondary level.