35% of Indian Schools Have Less Than 50 Students, Only 1-2 Teachers: Report

A recent report by PRS Legislative Research has revealed that 35% of schools in India enroll fewer than 50 students and are staffed with just one or two teachers. This issue has been raised by the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports (2023), which highlighted the urgent need to accelerate teacher recruitment and improve the educational system.

Smaller schools, which usually have few teachers, present several issues

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) reports that 36% of government schools in India have fewer than 50 students, and nearly 10% have fewer than 20 students. These smaller schools are often under-resourced and face significant challenges in delivering quality education.

The report emphasizes that in such schools, teachers are required to manage multiple grades and subjects, including those they may not be qualified to teach. This situation directly impacts the quality of education, as stated in the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which addresses the challenges faced by these institutions.

To tackle the issue, the report recommends the creation of an Autonomous Teacher Recruitment Board to expedite teacher recruitment and ensure transparency. This initiative aims to provide well-qualified teachers for smaller schools, particularly in rural and remote areas, to ensure students receive a better education.

The findings of the report call for urgent attention to smaller schools and underline the need for effective measures to improve teacher availability and overall educational quality across India.