Over 5,000 Government Schools Across India Have Zero Students; Telangana and West Bengal Account for 70%
Mumbai: More than 5,000 government schools across India have no students enrolled, with Telangana and West Bengal together accounting for over 70 per cent of such institutions, according to government data submitted in Parliament.
As per figures shared by the Union Ministry of Education, out of 10.13 lakh government schools in the 2024–25 academic year, 5,149 schools reported zero enrolment. Telangana topped the list with 2,081 schools, followed by West Bengal with 1,571, PTI reported.
Sharp Rise in Low-Enrolment Government Schools
The data also revealed a worrying rise in the number of government schools with either no students or fewer than 10 students. In a written reply to Lok Sabha questions raised by MPs Karti P Chidambaram and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the ministry said such schools increased by 24 per cent over two years, from 52,309 in 2022–23 to 65,054 in 2024–25.
These low-enrolment institutions now constitute 6.42 per cent of all government schools in India, underscoring concerns over declining public school participation.
District-Wise Data Highlights Regional Concentration
District-level figures from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) show that Telangana’s Nalgonda district has the highest number of zero-enrolment government schools in the country, at 315. It is followed by Mahabubabad (167) and Warangal (135).
In West Bengal, Kolkata recorded 211 government schools with no students, the second-highest figure nationally. Purba Medinipur reported 177 such schools, while Dakshin Dinajpur had 147, according to PTI.
Teachers Posted Despite No Students
Despite the absence of students, a significant number of teachers continue to be posted in these institutions. Across India, 1.44 lakh teachers are currently deployed in government schools with zero or fewer than 10 students, up from 1.26 lakh in 2022–23.
West Bengal alone has 27,348 teachers posted across 6,703 low-enrolment schools, averaging four teachers per school. Bihar, meanwhile, has around 3,600 teachers in 730 such schools, with an average of nearly five teachers per institution — more than double the national average of 2.2 teachers for low-enrolment schools.
Teacher Deployment a State Subject: Centre
The education ministry clarified that teacher recruitment and rational deployment fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, and the Centre’s role is limited to policy guidance and data collection.
Number of Government Schools Declining
The data also pointed to a gradual decline in the total number of government schools nationwide. The number fell from 10.32 lakh in 2019–20 to 10.13 lakh in 2024–25, reflecting consolidation, school mergers, and changing enrolment patterns.
Growing Concerns Over Public Education Access
Education experts say the findings highlight deeper issues, including migration to private schools, urbanisation, falling birth rates, and infrastructure challenges in government-run institutions. The data is likely to intensify debate over school rationalisation, teacher deployment, and strengthening public education across states.
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