India’s School Network Shrinks as Student Enrolment Continues to Rise
Nearly 4,800 schools closed in the past year, while student enrolment increased by almost 2.9 lakh, highlighting a growing imbalance in the education system.
India’s school education landscape is witnessing a significant shift, with the total number of schools declining even as student enrolment continues to grow. According to the latest UDISE+ data, around 4,800 schools disappeared between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years, while student enrolment increased by nearly 2.9 lakh. The trend indicates that more students are being accommodated in fewer schools, raising concerns about infrastructure, classroom capacity, and the quality of education.
Meghalaya recorded the sharpest contrast, with the number of schools falling by 21.4%, while enrolment rose by 4.5%. As a result, the average number of students per school increased significantly, pointing to larger class sizes and greater pressure on existing educational facilities.
A similar trend was observed in Telangana, where schools declined by 3.2%, but enrolment increased by 2.9%. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar registered slight declines in enrolment, whereas several other states showed moderate growth despite a reduction in the number of schools.
The data suggests that school mergers, closures of under-enrolled institutions, and administrative restructuring may be contributing to the shrinking school network. Education experts say the challenge now is to ensure that increased enrolment does not compromise learning outcomes, teacher availability, or access to quality education, especially in rural and remote areas.
