Empty Desks: The Rise of Zero-Enrolment Schools in India

A recent government report reveals that over 5,000 schools in India have zero student enrolment, with significant numbers in Telangana and West Bengal. This trend highlights the growing issue of schools with less than ten students, affecting teacher deployment and educational resource distribution across the country.

A startling government report has unveiled that out of 10.13 lakh government schools in India, 5,149 operate without a single student. Notably, Telangana and West Bengal lead this unsettling trend, comprising over 70% of these empty institutions, according to the latest government data.

Schools categorized as having 'less than 10 or zero enrolment' have surged dramatically, as indicated by recent figures presented by the education ministry in Parliament. The number of such schools soared by 24% in just two years, from 52,309 in 2022-23 to 65,054 in 2024-25, now constituting 6.42% of the national total, the government stated in a written response.

Despite negligible student numbers, a vast teaching workforce remains in place, as evidenced by the 1.44 lakh teachers currently assigned to these near-empty schools. In West Bengal alone, over 27,000 educators are allocated to such institutions, creating a unique challenge in teacher deployment strategies, which is a state government responsibility.

(With inputs from agencies.)