Hyderabad: A new report from the Union Ministry of Education has revealed that nearly 8,000 government schools across India recorded zero student enrolment for the 2024–25 academic year. Telangana ranked second on this list, raising serious concerns about the accessibility and reach of public education.
Telangana ranks second in zero-enrolment government schools
According to the ministry’s data, a total of 7,993 government schools across the country reported no student admissions this year. West Bengal topped the list with 3,812 such schools, followed by Telangana with 2,245. The report highlighted a startling fact — 20,817 teachers are still posted in these schools without any students. Of them, 17,965 are in West Bengal and 1,016 are in Telangana. Other states with zero-enrolment schools include Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh.
Slight improvement over last year’s figures
Despite the worrying numbers, the ministry noted a marginal improvement compared to last year. In 2023–24, the number of schools with zero enrolment stood at 12,954. This year’s figure shows a decline of around 5,000, which officials see as a positive sign.
Delhi, UTs show better performance
The report also found that Delhi and other Union Territories have no government schools with zero enrolment. Officials said the data underlines the need for state governments to take stronger measures to boost admissions and strengthen public schooling at the grassroots level.