"Over 4,400 Public Schools Closed Amid Enrollment Crisis; 238 Teachers Deployed in Non-Functional Institutions".
In a startling revelation, official data has exposed that 119 government-run schools in Jammu and Kashmir are operating without a single student enrolled, with 238 teachers still posted in these empty institutions. On average, seven teachers are assigned per school despite zero attendance, raising serious concerns about the accountability of the education department.
Since 2022, the region has witnessed a steep decline in the number of government schools, with over 4,400 schools closed or merged due to low or zero student enrollment. The number of primary schools alone has plummeted by nearly 30%, from 12,977 to 8,966, following consolidation efforts.
Despite these closures, the persistence of schools with no students highlights inefficiencies within the system. Education officials have previously announced plans to merge low-enrollment schools to optimize resources, but the continued deployment of staff in zero-enrollment schools underscores the need for urgent reforms.
Meanwhile, private schools in Jammu and Kashmir have also seen a marginal decline in functionality, with 133 institutions ceasing operations, bringing the total count of operational schools—government and private combined—from 28,805 to 24,279.
Repeated attempts to reach the Project Director of Samagra Shiksha for comments have remained unanswered, leaving questions about the department's oversight and strategy to address this ongoing crisis.
