There are 7,993 schools across the country that have no students, yet over 20,000 teachers are employed. The government is now working to balance the education system by merging these schools.
A shocking report has surfaced that raises questions about the country's education system. According to the Ministry of Education's recently released UDISE report, there are approximately 7,993 schools in India that have no students enrolled in the 2024–25 academic year. This means these schools are completely empty, with no students or classes taking place, yet 20,817 teachers are employed there.
According to the report, West Bengal has the highest number of schools with zero enrollment in the country. 3,812 schools here have no students, yet 17,965 teachers are working in these schools. After West Bengal, Telangana ranks second, with 1,016 teachers in 2,245 schools. Madhya Pradesh ranks third, with 463 schools without a single student but employing 223 teachers. Uttar Pradesh also includes 81 schools on this list.
States Start School Mergers
To address this situation, many states have begun merging schools. This means that schools with very few or no students are being merged with nearby schools. The aim is to make better use of teachers and resources so that government expenditure is not wasted.
Improvement Compared to Last Year
According to the report, the situation has improved somewhat compared to last year. In 2023-24, there were 12,954 schools across the country with no students, while in 2024-25, this number has decreased to 7,993, representing a decline of approximately 38 percent.
These states don't have a single "empty school"
Many states have completely addressed this problem. States like Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura no longer have a single zero-enrollment school.
Similarly, in Delhi, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Union Territories like Daman and Diu, all schools are now fully enrolled.
Education Ministry's clarification
A senior Education Ministry official stated that school education is a state subject. All states have been advised to merge schools with zero enrollment to ensure efficient utilization of staff and resources. Some states have even taken concrete steps in this direction.
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