Single-Teacher Schools: How many schools in the country have only one teacher? The figures might surprise you.

Single-Teacher Schools: According to the UDISE+ report, more than 100,000 schools across the country are still run by a single teacher. Here is what these startling government statistics from the Ministry of Education reveal.

Single-Teacher Schools: We often hear the slogan, "If India studies, India will progress" (*Padhega India toh Badhega India*), yet a shocking government statistic regarding the nation's school education system has emerged. According to the latest UDISE+ report presented in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Education, there are still over 100,000 schools in India that rely on just one teacher.

This single teacher bears the entire responsibility—managing administrative tasks, recording student attendance, and simultaneously teaching all classes from grade one to grade five. Although the government is making ongoing efforts to merge schools and deploy more teachers, this shortage remains a significant challenge on the ground.

Over 100,000 Schools with a Single Teacher

According to the Ministry of Education's report, a total of 100,843 schools across the country operate under a single-teacher system. This figure encompasses government schools, government-aided schools, and some private schools. On a positive note, there has been a slight decline of about 3 percent compared to the previous year, when the number of such schools stood at 104,125. Thanks to the government's corrective measures, the number of single-teacher schools has decreased by 3,282 within a year; however, the fact that the figure remains above 100,000 is a major cause for concern in terms of educational policy.

Looking at the situation state-wise, the southern state of Andhra Pradesh ranks at the top of this list. In Andhra Pradesh alone, there are 16,357 schools with only one teacher—accounting for more than 16 percent of the total figure nationwide. Jharkhand ranks second, with 9,827 schools operating with a single teacher, followed by Maharashtra in third place with 9,269 such schools. Furthermore, states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh also have a high number of single-teacher schools in remote rural areas.

A Direct Impact on the Future of Millions of Children

The number of children receiving their education in these single-teacher schools runs into the millions. According to the data, more than 2.9 million students are enrolled in these 100,000-plus schools across the country. Under the Right to Education Act, it is mandatory to have at least one teacher for every 30 students at the primary level, and one teacher for every 35 students at the upper primary level. While the student-teacher ratio may appear to be within acceptable limits at the national level, issues surrounding the transfer and posting of teachers have resulted in children in rural areas being deprived of quality education.

What Measures Are Being Taken?

The Ministry of Education and various state governments are actively working to address this challenge. As part of these efforts, government schools with very low or zero student enrollment are being merged with larger, nearby schools. Additionally, a policy is being implemented to redeploy surplus teachers to schools in rural areas that face a severe shortage, ensuring that, in the future, no child in the country has to rely on a single teacher for their entire education.