Over 1 Lakh Single-Teacher Schools Identified in UDISE+ Report

The Centre has informed the Rajya Sabha that the latest UDISE+ 2025-26 report identifies over one lakh single-teacher schools across India. While the data highlights the prevalence of these schools, the government noted that teacher vacancy management remains the responsibility of individual states, aiming to ensure pupil-teacher ratios align with the National Education Policy (NEP) norms.

The concentration of single-teacher schools presents ongoing challenges for equitable educational delivery in rural and remote regions. Policymakers are emphasizing the need for states to streamline recruitment and deployment processes to improve the quality of instruction and provide better support for both students and educators in these schools.

Addressing these structural gaps in school staffing is critical for India's long-term educational objectives. As the government continues to roll out NEP initiatives, the focus on filling these vacancies is expected to become a central pillar of state-level education reform to ensure that all students receive adequate classroom time and personalized instruction throughout their academic career.