Nearly 8,000 schools across India reported zero student enrolments for the 2024-25 academic session , with official data indicating West Bengal accounted for the highest number of these institutions, closely followed by Telangana.
According to Ministry of Education statistics, exactly 7,993 schools had no student enrolments this academic year. This figure represents a decrease of over 5,000 schools from the previous year, which recorded 12,954 zero-enrolment institutions. These schools collectively employed 20,817 teachers nationwide.
State-Wise Zero Enrolment Data
West Bengal registered the largest number of schools with no students, reaching a total of 3,812 institutions. These particular schools employed 17,965 teachers.
Telangana followed as the state with the second highest count, reporting 2,245 zero-enrolment schools. These institutions employed 1,016 teachers. Madhya Pradesh recorded 463 such schools, with 223 teachers employed within them. Uttar Pradesh reported 81 schools experiencing zero enrolments. The official data did not specify the number of teachers in these particular Uttar Pradesh schools.
| State/UT | Zero-Enrolment Schools (2024-25) | Teachers Employed |
|---|---|---|
| West Bengal | 3,812 | 17,965 |
| Telangana | 2,245 | 1,016 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 463 | 223 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 81 | Not specified |
Regions Without Zero-Enrolment Schools
Several states and Union Territories across India reported no schools with zero enrolments for the current academic year. These states included Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Delhi also registered no schools with zero enrolments during this period.
Additionally, the Union Territories of Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Daman and Diu, and Chandigarh consistently reported zero zero-enrolment schools based on the latest data.
Government Response and Actions
The Ministry of Education confirms that school education falls primarily under state jurisdiction. Consequently, states have received official advice to actively address the issue of zero enrolments in schools. Some state governments have already implemented mergers of schools to optimize available resources.
This resource optimization includes consolidating infrastructure and staff. In Uttar Pradesh, the Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has announced plans to revoke recognition for its affiliated schools. This specific action targets institutions that have recorded zero student enrolment for three consecutive academic years.
Single-Teacher Schools in Focus
Beyond zero-enrolment schools, official data also detailed the presence of single-teacher institutions across India. Over 33 lakh students are enrolled in more than 1 lakh single-teacher schools nationwide. Andhra Pradesh records the highest count of these specific schools, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Lakshadweep.
The total number of single-teacher schools decreased by approximately six percent. It dropped from 1,18,190 in the 2022-23 academic year to 1,10,971 in the 2023-24 academic year.
When considering student enrolment specifically within single-teacher schools, Uttar Pradesh leads the list. Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh follow in terms of student numbers in these institutions.