Published on October 27 , 2025
Delhi, India
India’s school education system, serving over 24.8 crore students across 14.72 lakh schools, faces a troubling paradox: nearly 8,000 institutions with zero enrollments continue to employ more than 20,000 teachers, siphoning public funds without educating a single child. According to the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 data from the Ministry of Education, 7,993 schools reported no students—a 38% drop from 12,954 in 2023-24—yet these “ghost schools” persist due to administrative inertia, rural migration, and low birth rates. This issue, concentrated in states like West Bengal and Telangana, underscores inefficiencies in resource allocation and highlights the need for targeted reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As enrollment overall dipped by 37 lakh to 24.8 crore in 2023-24, improved data accuracy via Aadhaar-linked student-wise tracking has exposed these gaps, paving the way for better governance.
Key Points
- Overall Scale: 7,993 zero-enrollment schools employ 20,817 teachers; annual cost estimated at ₹1,800 crore for salaries alone (average 2-3 teachers per school at ₹4-10 lakh/year).
- Decline Trend: 38% reduction from previous year, attributed to mergers and better data verification; total single-teacher schools fell 6% to 1,10,971, serving 33 lakh students.
- Data Revolution: Shift to student-centric UDISE+ since 2022-23, with 19.7 crore Aadhaar-linked entries, weeds out “ghost students” (double-enrolled for benefits) and enables precise tracking.
State-Wise Distribution: Where the Ghost Schools Linger
The burden of zero-enrollment schools falls unevenly, with eastern and southern states bearing the brunt. West Bengal alone accounts for nearly half, employing thousands of teachers in empty institutions. States like Haryana and Maharashtra report none, showcasing effective local interventions. Rural areas dominate, where migration to urban centers for jobs leaves villages depopulated.
Key Points
- West Bengal: 3,812 schools, 17,965 teachers—highest in absolute terms, driven by rural exodus and preference for urban/private options.
- Telangana: 2,245 schools, 1,016 teachers; second-worst, with similar migration challenges.
- Madhya Pradesh: 463 schools, 223 teachers; significant in tribal/rural belts.
- Uttar Pradesh: 81 schools (down from 2,890 govt schools with zero students in prior data); Basic Education Dept. merged 1,807 low-enrollment schools recently.
- Other Notables: Bihar (1,350 schools), Rajasthan (2,167 in 2023-24 data); zero cases in Haryana, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, and most UTs.
- National Average: 2-3 teachers per ghost school, with female teachers at 54.2% overall workforce.
Root Causes: Why Schools Stand Empty Despite Paid Staff
Zero-enrollment schools stem from a mix of demographic shifts and systemic flaws. Post-pandemic, parents shifted to private schools (enrollment up 10-15% in some states), while rural decline—migration, low fertility—emptied villages. Administrative hurdles prevent quick closures, as teacher transfers face union resistance, and buildings remain sanctioned for equity norms.
Key Points
- Demographic Pressures: Declining birth rates (India’s fertility at 2.0) and rural-urban migration reduce school-age children; e.g., Bihar’s Education Secretary notes local opposition to closures.
- Post-Pandemic Shifts: Preference for homeschooling/alternatives; government school enrollment fell sharper (37 lakh drop, with 16 lakh girls, 21 lakh boys).
- Data Inaccuracies Exposed: Pre-2022 school-wise reporting hid issues; now, Aadhaar/EID tracking eliminates duplicates, revealing true gaps.
- Policy Gaps: Single-teacher schools (1.04 lakh) persist in Andhra Pradesh (12,611), Madhya Pradesh (13,198); UP leads enrollment in them (highest student numbers).
Government Response: Mergers, Revocations, and Resource Optimization
As school education is a state subject, the Centre advises action while reviewing schemes like PM SHRI. States are merging low-enrollment schools, reallocating teachers, and repurposing buildings for community use. Uttar Pradesh’s bold move to derecognize chronic zero-enrollment schools sets a precedent.
Key Points
- Central Directives: States advised to merge for “optimum utilization of infrastructure and staff”; deadline for action plans: December 2025.
- State Actions: UP to revoke affiliations for 3-year zero-enrollment schools; Bihar faces resistance but plans reallocations; Haryana added 41 teachers to zero schools despite no students.
- UDISE+ Enhancements: Captures 60+ student fields for tracking; aids NEP 2020’s universal participation goal.
- Broader Reforms: Focus on gender equity (girls’ enrollment at 48.3%, female teachers 54.2%); infrastructure upgrades for differently-abled.
Broader Implications: Fiscal Drain and Equity Challenges
These ghost schools symbolize deeper inequities: ₹1,800 crore wasted annually could fund digital labs or teacher training. Rural girls and minorities (20% enrollment: Muslims 79.6%, SC 18%, ST 9.9%, OBC 45.2%) suffer most from closures without alternatives. Yet, positives like 98.9% retention at foundational levels and GER rise (90.3% middle, 68.5% secondary) show progress.
Key Points
- Economic Toll: Funds diverted from active schools; potential savings via mergers for better resource management.
- Social Impact: Exacerbates urban-rural divide; post-COVID private shift widens gaps.
- Unrecognized Schools: 22,298 nationwide (undercounted), evading UDISE+; e.g., Maharashtra’s 85 in Nagpur face court scrutiny.
- Opportunities: Repurposed buildings for ECCE or skill centers; aligns with SDG 4 for quality education.
