4 min readJun 3, 2025 05:58 PM IST
First published on: Jun 3, 2025 at 05:58 PM IST
The number of students in government schools is steadily declining in the country. This alarming trend is common to almost all states. Three states, however, have drawn more attention than others. In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand, though the number of private schools is less than the number of government schools, the number of students enrolled in the former is much higher than that of the students enrolled in the latter.
In Andhra Pradesh, the total number of schools is 61,373. Among them, 45,000, or 73 per cent, are government schools. Yet only around 46 per cent of students go to government schools, while approximately 52 per cent attend private institutions. In Telangana, 70 per cent of the 42,901 schools are government-run, but only 38 per cent of the students are enrolled in these schools. Over 60 per cent of students go to private schools. This picture is consistent across 23 states in India.
In March and April, for assessing the state of primary and secondary education, several rounds of meetings were held in Delhi. Attended by secretaries and senior officials of the relevant ministries, and education officers from various states, these meetings discussed the pathetic condition of the government school sector. A review report on the mid-day meal scheme showed a continuous decline in student enrollment in government schools. Following these review meetings, letters have been sent to the state governments, instructing them to investigate the causes of poor enrollment in government schools.
Is there any need for a new survey to understand the reasons behind this problem? The causes of the steady decline in the number of students in government schools are well-known. Governments (both central and state) should do something concrete to address the issue and bring students back to government schools.
Over the past three decades, the biggest challenge in school education across the country has been the shortage of teachers. In most government schools, more than half the teaching positions are vacant. In contrast, private schools, despite offering lower salaries, have adequate teachers. Concerned about their children’s future, parents are opting for private schools where students will at least learn something.
In terms of infrastructure, private schools are far better than their government counterparts. The medium of instruction is another major reason for the parents’ preferences. Most private schools offer education in English. Given the shrinking number of government jobs, many parents believe that knowing good English could help their children secure employment in the private sector.
Moreover, due to the successful implementation of various family planning programmes, even lower-middle-class families are now willing to take the financial risk of enrolling their children in a private school.
So there is practically no need to form investigation committees to know the truth behind the gradual decline of the government schools. What is more alarming is the class divide and the sense of inferiority experienced by the students of the government schools. However, these students don’t lack merit; they lack support and infrastructure. Post-globalisation commodification of education has further worsened the gap. What is needed is proper action: Recruiting teachers, improving infrastructure, updating the syllabus, and opening more English-medium government schools.
The writer is professor, Department of English and Culture Studies, and director, Centre for Australian Studies, University of Burdwan
The CID-Crime Branch of Odisha Police, which is investigating the case, has arrested eight people, including the BSE vice-president, for their alleged involvement. 
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