35% of Indian schools struggle with low enrolment, barely 1-2 teachers: Report

Many Indian schools struggle with low enrolment and teacher shortages. PRS Legislative Research found that 35% of schools have 50 or fewer students, with only one or two teachers managing multiple grades and subjects.

NITI Aayog reported that 36% of government schools had fewer than 50 students, and 10% had fewer than 20. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 warned that small schools lack proper infrastructure like labs and libraries. Teachers in these schools spend more time on administrative work, reducing teaching hours.

Teacher vacancies remain a major issue. In 2022-23, 16% of teaching posts for grades 1-8 were vacant, with Jharkhand (40%), Bihar (32%), Mizoram (30%), and Tripura (26%) facing severe shortages. The Standing Committee on Education urged states to speed up recruitment and create an Autonomous Teacher Recruitment Board for transparency.

Many teachers also lack proper qualifications. In 2023-24, 12% of teachers from primary to higher secondary levels were unqualified. At the pre-primary level, 48% of teachers lacked professional teaching credentials, according to the Ministry of Education.

Education experts stress the need for urgent reforms. States must recruit more teachers, improve infrastructure, and ensure proper training. Without these steps, students in small schools will continue to face educational disadvantages.