The Ministry of Education (MoE) has revealed that 146 government schools in Jammu and Kashmir are functioning despite having no students enrolled, while more than 1,350 schools are operating with only a single teacher.
According to the Ministry, 141 primary schools and five upper primary schools in the Union Territory have reported zero student enrolment. The Centre described the situation as a matter of serious concern and called for immediate corrective measures.
The MoE further stated that 1,762 primary schools and 135 upper primary schools have fewer than 15 students enrolled. Additionally, 5,175 primary schools and 748 upper primary schools have fewer than 30 students.
The Ministry has advised the Jammu and Kashmir administration to conduct a detailed assessment of these schools and implement effective strategies to improve student enrolment and optimise educational resources.
On staffing, the Ministry reported that 1,278 primary schools and 77 upper primary schools are functioning with only one teacher. It urged the administration to ensure compliance with the Right to Education (RTE) norms by addressing teacher shortages and strengthening the education system.
Earlier this year, the Jammu and Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly that nearly 3,200 government schools had fewer than ten or no students over the past four years. More than 2,500 teachers were posted in these schools, including 1,934 teachers in Jammu division and 584 in Kashmir division.
In 2024, around 4,400 government-run schools in Jammu and Kashmir were removed from the UDISE database due to zero or extremely low enrolment, highlighting the continuing challenges facing the region’s education sector.(Agencies)
