The Crisis of School Closures
A quiet but devastating transformation has been unfolding across India’s educational landscape. Since 2014, nearly 89,441 government schools have been shut down, a figure that paints a concerning picture of the country’s priorities in education. This large-scale reduction of public schools, although largely unnoticed by the public eye, has sparked alarm among educators, activists, and parents. What does this mean for the future of India’s children—and the nation itself?
The Facts: A Massive Decline in Government Schools
According to official data from the Ministry of Education and UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education), the number of government schools across India dropped from approximately 1.107 million in 2014–15 to around 1.018 million by 2023–24. This translates to a net reduction of 89,441 government-run schools over the span of ten years.
These closures were not uniformly distributed. Two states—Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh—together accounted for over 60% of the total closures, indicating that the burden has not been shared equally across the nation.
- Madhya Pradesh reported a closure of 29,410 schools.
- Uttar Pradesh followed with 25,126 closures.
Together, these states accounted for more than 54,000 school shutdowns, deeply affecting access to primary education in some of the most populous regions of the country.
Why Are Schools Being Shut Down?
School closures have been justified by many state governments under the policy of “school rationalisation.” This strategy is aimed at merging under-enrolled schools to optimize resources, teacher allocation, and infrastructure. The Right to Education (RTE) Act requires schools to meet minimum standards for teacher–student ratios, and the logic behind rationalisation is often tied to those requirements.
However, critics argue that this policy disproportionately affects rural and marginalized communities. In villages where schools are sparse, a shutdown often means that children must travel longer distances, face greater safety risks, or simply drop out altogether.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the crisis. Many schools that had been temporarily closed due to lockdowns were later merged or permanently shut down due to budget cuts, declining enrolment, or lack of infrastructure investment.
The Dropout Crisis: Over 2 Crore Children Lost to the System
One of the most alarming consequences of these closures has been the massive dropout of students—particularly those from Classes 1 to 8. Between 2021 and 2024, it is estimated that over 2 crore (20 million) children dropped out of school.
While some of this number can be attributed to data cleaning (removal of duplicate or “ghost” enrolments due to the introduction of Aadhaar-based systems), a large portion of it represents genuine school attrition. Students from low-income families, tribal regions, and rural districts were hit the hardest, often pulled out of school due to financial constraints, lack of digital access during online learning, or the unavailability of nearby schools post-closures.
In the academic year 2022–23 alone, a net drop of around 37 lakh (3.7 million) students was recorded in official school enrolment data.
State-by-State Picture: Who Lost the Most?
The impact of school closures has varied by state. Based on the latest compiled data, here are some notable figures:
- Odisha: –10,026 schools
- Bihar: –8,326 schools
- Assam: –7,919 schools
- Jharkhand: –5,527 schools
- Jammu & Kashmir: –5,089 schools
- Chhattisgarh: –1,258 schools
- Maharashtra: –2,560 schools
- Karnataka: –1,180 schools
- Andhra Pradesh: –1,666 schools
- Tamil Nadu: –239 schools
- Kerala: –295 schools
Meanwhile, some states actually witnessed a marginal increase in the number of schools, such as:
- Telangana: +754 schools
- Rajasthan: +23 schools
These variations highlight how state-level decisions and educational priorities differ across India.
Political Angle: Is BJP’s Governance to Blame?
The infographic that recently went viral pointed out that “BJP’s Double Engine Government” in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh was responsible for the majority of the school closures. While it is factually true that these two BJP-ruled states contributed over 60% of the total closures, a direct political blame may oversimplify a more complex issue.
School rationalisation policies have been implemented across states governed by different parties. For example, Odisha (BJD-ruled) and Bihar (JDU-RJD) also reported large-scale closures. The real driver appears to be a shared administrative strategy focused on cost-cutting and system “efficiency”—often at the cost of accessibility and equity.
Thus, while BJP-led states did close the most schools, the phenomenon isn’t exclusive to any one political party. It reflects a systemic shift in education policy at both state and national levels.
Who Suffers the Most?
It is the children of rural India who bear the brunt of these decisions. When schools shut down in remote or tribal areas, the replacement schools are often too far for young children to walk. As a result:
- Girls are more likely to be pulled out due to safety concerns or household responsibilities.
- Poor families may lack the means to transport children to distant schools.
- Learning outcomes decline due to overcrowded merged schools and longer commutes.
Without nearby schools, the idea of universal education becomes a dream deferred for millions.
A Silent Emergency
The closure of nearly 90,000 government schools has not attracted the public outcry that it deserves. In a country where nearly 65% of children rely on public education, such closures directly impact literacy, social mobility, and future employment opportunities.
With India aiming to become a global economic leader, the foundations of education must be strengthened, not weakened. Investments should be made in building new schools, hiring more qualified teachers, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that no child is left behind due to the lack of a school in their vicinity.
Conclusion: Nahi Padhega India, Toh Kaise Badhega India?
It is time for a national conversation on educational access, equity, and reform. The closure of government schools must be reconsidered with a child-centric approach that values inclusion over efficiency, and education as a right—not a burden.
