YSRCP Cites UDISE+ Data to Allege Decline in AP Government Schools

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has alleged a significant decline in the number of government schools and student enrolment in Andhra Pradesh during the 2025–26 academic year, citing the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report released by the Union Ministry of Education. The party claimed that the official data also indicates continued growth in the private school sector, reflecting a shift in the state's school education landscape.

According to the figures cited by the opposition party, the number of government schools declined from 44,886 in 2024–25 to 44,222 in 2025–26, a reduction of 664 schools in just one academic year. It said the fall continues a three-year trend, with the number of government schools decreasing from 45,000 in 2023–24 to 44,886 the following year before dropping further this year.

The YSRCP also highlighted a steep fall in enrolment in government schools. It said the number of students enrolled declined from 34.93 lakh in 2024–25 to 29.06 lakh in 2025–26, a decrease of 5.87 lakh students in a single year. In contrast, the number of private schools reportedly increased from 15,473 to 15,710, while enrolment in private institutions also registered growth during the same period. The number of aided schools fell from 838 to 797, according to the data.

Overall, the total number of schools in the state declined from 61,317 in 2024–25 to 60,843 in 2025–26. The opposition party attributed the overall decline to the reduction in government and aided institutions, which outweighed the increase in private schools. It argued that the latest figures point to a shrinking government school network alongside the continued expansion of private educational institutions.

The UDISE+ database is India's official school education management information system, compiling annual data from recognised schools on enrolment, infrastructure, teachers and other key indicators. While it provides comprehensive statistical information, the report itself does not assign reasons for changes in school numbers or enrollment, meaning the causes behind the decline cannot be inferred from the dataset alone.

Education experts generally note that year-to-year changes in school and enrolment figures can result from multiple factors, including school mergers or rationalisation, demographic shifts, migration, changing parental preferences, and movement of students between government and private institutions. Any assessment of the reasons behind Andhra Pradesh's latest figures would require further clarification from the state School Education Department, as the UDISE+ report is primarily a statistical compilation rather than an analytical document.