Alarming Data Reveals Thousands of Empty Government Schools in India
Overview of Empty Schools
Recent government statistics indicate a troubling trend in India's education sector, revealing that numerous government schools are devoid of students while still employing teachers and staff. The states of Telangana and West Bengal report the highest numbers of such institutions.
Statistics on Enrollment
The government has disclosed that there are approximately 10.13 lakh government schools across India, with 5,149 of these schools having no students enrolled. This situation highlights a significant disconnect between school infrastructure and actual student attendance.
States with the Most Empty Schools
Data shows that over 70% of schools with zero enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year are located in Telangana and West Bengal. Specifically, Telangana has 2,081 schools without students, while West Bengal has 1,571.
District-Level Insights in Telangana
In Telangana's Nalgonda district, the highest number of empty schools is recorded at 315. Following this are Mahbubabad with 167 and Warangal with 135 schools lacking any enrolled students. These figures suggest a growing lack of confidence in government schools in these regions.
West Bengal's Situation
In West Bengal, the capital city Kolkata has 211 government schools with no students, marking it as the second-highest in the nation. Additionally, Purba Medinipur and Dakshin Dinajpur districts report 177 and 147 empty schools, respectively.
Increase in Schools with Low Enrollment
The trend of schools with fewer than 10 students is also on the rise. From 52,309 such schools in 2022-23, the number has surged to 65,054 in 2024-25, reflecting a 24% increase over two years. These schools now represent 6.42% of all government schools.
Teacher Deployment in Empty Schools
Despite the lack of students, a significant number of teachers are still assigned to these schools. Currently, 1.44 lakh teachers are employed in institutions with low or no enrollment, an increase from 1.26 lakh in the previous year.
State-Specific Teacher Statistics
In West Bengal, there are 6,703 government schools with 27,348 teachers, averaging four teachers per school. In Bihar, 730 schools with low enrollment have 3,600 teachers, averaging five per school, which is notably higher than the national average of 22.
Government's Stance
The Ministry of Education has stated that the responsibility for teacher recruitment and deployment lies with state governments, urging them to manage these resources more effectively.
Declining Number of Government Schools
The data also indicates a decrease in the total number of government schools, dropping from 10.32 lakh in 2019-20 to 10.13 lakh in 2024-25.
Urgent Need for Educational Reform
These alarming statistics raise critical questions about the effectiveness of the education system. With schools lacking students, the rationale for maintaining teachers in these positions is questionable. This situation underscores the urgent need for policy reforms in the education sector.