Nearly 8,000 schools across India report zero enrolment

Close to 8,000 schools across India had zero student enrolment during the 2024–25 academic session, with West Bengal accounting for the highest number of such institutions, followed by Telangana, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Education.

A total of 7,993 schools reported no admissions this year, marking a significant drop of more than 5,000 from the previous year’s figure of 12,954. Despite having no enrolled students, 20,817 teachers continued to be employed in these schools nationwide, with West Bengal alone accounting for 17,965 of them. The state also recorded the highest number of zero-enrolment schools at 3,812.

In contrast, several states including Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura reported no such schools. All Union Territories, including Delhi, also recorded zero cases of non-enrolling schools.

Telangana had the second-highest number of schools without students at 2,245, with 1,016 teachers posted in them. Madhya Pradesh followed with 463 such schools and 223 teachers. Uttar Pradesh reported 81 schools with zero enrolment. The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has already initiated steps to withdraw recognition from schools that have failed to enrol students for three consecutive academic years.

A senior official said states have been advised to review the situation and ensure optimal utilisation of educational infrastructure and staff. “Some states have opted to merge schools to improve resource efficiency,” the official added.

Experts say multiple factors are preventing schools from bringing students back. Migration of families to urban areas, lack of adequate infrastructure, shortage of teaching staff in remote locations, and economic pressures on households are key challenges. In some cases, schools lack proper facilities, making them less attractive to parents, while in other areas, alternative private or informal schooling options draw students away.

To address these issues, authorities suggest measures such as consolidating small schools, improving infrastructure, incentivising teachers to work in remote areas, launching awareness campaigns to encourage enrolment, and offering scholarships or mid-day meals to attract children back to school.

The data also highlights the ongoing challenge of single-teacher schools. Over 33 lakh students are studying in more than one lakh such institutions. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of single-teacher schools, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep. However, Uttar Pradesh leads in terms of highest enrolment in these schools.

The number of single-teacher schools declined by nearly six per cent, dropping from 1,18,190 in 2022–23 to 1,10,971 in 2023–24, signalling gradual improvements in staffing and consolidation efforts.