India's Education Paradox: Empty Classrooms and Employed Teachers

In a perplexing scenario within India's education system, nearly 8,000 schools recorded zero student enrollment during the 2024-25 academic year, while still employing over 20,000 teachers. This juxtaposition highlights a significant disparity in resource allocation and utilization within the country's educational framework.

According to data released by the Ministry of Education (MoE), a total of 20,817 teachers were engaged in these institutions without a single child on the roster. West Bengal accounts for the highest number of such schools, with 3,812 schools and 17,965 teachers. Telangana follows with 2,245 schools employing 1,016 teachers, and Madhya Pradesh with 463 schools and 223 teachers. Several states and union territories, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Delhi, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Daman and Diu, reported no schools with zero enrollment.

While the aggregated figure for zero-enrollment schools shows a decline from 12,954 in the previous academic year to 7,993 in 2024-25, the situation remains alarming. A senior official from the Ministry of Education stated that because school education is a state subject, state governments have been advised to address the issue of zero enrollments in schools by merging schools, optimizing infrastructure, and rationalizing staff deployment.

This paradox exists alongside reports of declining enrollment in government schools. Overall school enrollment has dropped to a seven-year low of 24.68 crore in 2024–25, a fall of 11 lakh students compared to the previous year. The primary level (Classes 1–5) experienced the most significant decline, with enrollment shrinking by nearly 34 lakh students. This decline is attributed to falling birth rates and demographic shifts. Government school enrollment has fallen sharply from 12.75 crore to 12.16 crore, while private schools have seen a surge, rising from 9 crore to 9.59 crore.

However, data also shows increased enrollment in middle school (Class 6 to 8) and secondary sections (Class 9 to 12). Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) has also improved at the middle and secondary levels, and dropout rates have reduced.

In contrast to schools with zero enrollment, there are over 1 lakh single-teacher schools in India, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka. These schools serve over 33 lakh students.

Several factors contribute to the challenges within India's education system. These include crumbling infrastructure, teacher shortages, focus on rote memorization, and digital divide. Disparities persist based on socio-economic status, gender, and geographical location, affecting access to quality education. While enrollment rates are high, the quality of education falters, with outdated curricula and teacher absenteeism posing significant barriers.

The Indian education system is also plagued by an overwhelming emphasis on rote memorization, which prioritizes recall over conceptual understanding. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024 revealed that only 23.4% of Class 3 students in government schools could read a Class 2-level text.

To address these challenges, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to create a more flexible, inclusive, and skill-oriented learning environment. The policy seeks to promote skill-based learning, early childhood education, and greater flexibility across school and higher education. Initiatives such as the Skill India Mission and the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education also aim to improve the quality of education and address the education-employment mismatch.