The Paradox of Education in Delhi: Rising Enrolment, Stagnant Teacher Numbers

In Delhi, student enrolment numbers continue to climb while teacher numbers see only minor increases. Despite education sector growth, the teacher workforce shows limited expansion, especially in primary and middle schools. The data reveals a consistent gender imbalance, with women forming the majority of educators within schools.

Education in Delhi faces an ongoing paradox as student enrolment rates soar, yet teaching staff growth lags significantly. According to the Department of Economics and Statistics, the number of educators grew marginally from 1,60,479 in 2023-24 to 1,61,958 in 2024-25.

This slow pace is evident across various levels, from primary to senior secondary schools. Despite the persistent gender dominance of female teachers, the teacher student gap remains.

The situation is compounded by a sudden drop in student enrolment for 2024-25, from over 1.5 million to just 860,113, highlighting the disparity between educational demand and the available teaching workforce.

(With inputs from agencies.)