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2 Dec 2025·Source: The Hindu
2 min
Social IssuesPolity & GovernanceNEWS

Declining Government Schools, Rising Micro-Schools: A Challenge for Education Quality

While the total number of government schools is decreasing, those with fewer than 10 students are increasing, raising concerns about education quality.

Declining Government Schools, Rising Micro-Schools: A Challenge for Education Quality

Photo by Faiz Husain

Here's an interesting trend from the government's data: while the overall number of government schools in India has decreased, there's been a noticeable rise in 'micro-schools' – those with fewer than 10 students. What does this tell us? It suggests that despite efforts to consolidate or improve infrastructure, many schools are struggling with very low enrollment.

This trend raises concerns about the quality of education, efficient resource allocation, and the viability of such small institutions. It also points to challenges in teacher deployment and providing a comprehensive learning environment, especially in remote or sparsely populated areas.

Key Facts

1.

The total number of government schools in India has decreased.

2.

However, the number of government schools with fewer than 10 students has increased.

3.

This trend raises concerns about education quality and resource allocation.

4.

Data is based on the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

Impact of demographic changes on educational infrastructure

2.

Effectiveness of government education policies (RTE, NEP 2020, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan)

3.

Challenges in achieving quality education and equitable access

4.

Resource allocation and efficiency in public education

5.

Teacher rationalization and deployment issues

Visual Insights

More Information

Background

Historically, India has focused on expanding access to education, leading to a vast network of government schools. Post-independence, policies aimed at universalizing elementary education, culminating in the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. However, challenges like declining enrollment in government schools, particularly in rural areas, and the emergence of 'micro-schools' (schools with very low student numbers) indicate a shift in the educational landscape and raise concerns about quality and resource efficiency.

Latest Developments

Recent government data highlights a paradoxical trend: a decrease in the overall number of government schools but a simultaneous rise in 'micro-schools' (fewer than 10 students). This suggests issues with low enrollment, possibly due to demographic shifts, migration, or preference for private schools. This trend directly impacts resource allocation, teacher deployment, and the ability to provide a comprehensive and quality learning environment, especially in remote or sparsely populated regions.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the recent trend of 'micro-schools' in India and related educational policies: 1. The observed rise in micro-schools (fewer than 10 students) is primarily a phenomenon restricted to urban areas due to intense competition from private schools. 2. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates for school complexes/clusters to improve resource utilization and educational quality, which could address issues faced by micro-schools. 3. The Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates specific student-teacher ratios, which often become challenging to maintain in micro-schools. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is incorrect. Micro-schools are more prevalent in remote, rural, or sparsely populated areas where low population density or out-migration leads to low enrollment, rather than primarily in urban areas due to private school competition. Statement 2 is correct. NEP 2020 strongly recommends forming school complexes or clusters to share resources, teachers, and infrastructure, thereby improving the quality and viability of smaller schools. Statement 3 is correct. The RTE Act, 2009, specifies norms for student-teacher ratios (e.g., 30:1 for primary schools), which are difficult to meet in schools with very few students, often leading to single-teacher schools or inefficient teacher deployment.

2. With reference to the constitutional provisions and major government initiatives for elementary education in India, consider the following statements: 1. Article 21A of the Indian Constitution makes education a fundamental right for all children up to the age of fourteen years. 2. The Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan is an overarching programme that subsumes Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE). 3. The 'No Detention Policy' under the RTE Act was completely abolished by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2017. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: A

Statement 1 is correct. Article 21A, inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002, mandates the State to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years. Statement 2 is correct. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, launched in 2018, is indeed an integrated scheme for school education from pre-school to senior secondary levels, subsuming the three erstwhile schemes: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE). Statement 3 is incorrect. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2017 (which became law in 2019), did not completely abolish the 'No Detention Policy'. Instead, it allowed states to decide whether to hold back children in Class 5 and Class 8, effectively giving them the option to reintroduce detention, rather than a complete abolition.

3. Which of the following is/are potential implications of a significant increase in 'micro-schools' in India? 1. Increased per-student cost of education for the government. 2. Challenges in providing a diverse range of subject teachers and specialized facilities. 3. Enhanced community participation and local ownership of schools. 4. Difficulty in implementing consolidated school complexes as envisioned by NEP 2020. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.1, 2 and 4 only
  • C.3 and 4 only
  • D.1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer

Answer: B

Statement 1 is correct. Maintaining a school, regardless of student numbers, involves fixed costs (infrastructure, minimum staff). With fewer students, the cost per student significantly increases, leading to inefficient resource allocation. Statement 2 is correct. Micro-schools often struggle with a single teacher or very few teachers, making it impossible to offer a diverse curriculum (e.g., science, arts, sports) or specialized facilities like labs, libraries, or computer rooms. Statement 3 is generally incorrect in the context of quality. While a very small school might foster some local connection, the primary concern with micro-schools is their viability and quality. Low enrollment often indicates a lack of community trust or engagement, or demographic shifts, rather than enhanced participation. Statement 4 is correct. The NEP 2020's vision of school complexes aims to pool resources and expertise. A proliferation of micro-schools, especially in remote areas, makes such consolidation difficult to implement effectively due to geographical dispersion and local resistance.

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