Number of Single-Teacher Schools Rises in Maharashtra; Government Report Highlights Infrastructure Gaps

Pune: While the number of single-teacher schools has declined across the country, Maharashtra has witnessed a significant increase, according to the latest UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) report released by the Union Ministry of Education.

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The report states that the number of single-teacher schools in Maharashtra has increased from 8,152 in 2024–25 to 9,269 in 2025–26, an addition of 1,144 schools in just one year. These schools currently cater to 1,79,104 students, raising concerns among education experts over the quality of primary education in the state.

Contrasting National Trend

Nationally, the number of single-teacher schools has declined from 1,04,125 in 2024–25 to 1,00,843 in 2025–26. However, Maharashtra has moved in the opposite direction, making the rise in such schools a matter of concern for the state’s education system.

Experts Raise Concerns

Education experts believe that the student-strength-based teacher approval policy is creating serious staffing challenges in government schools.

Former headmaster Mahendra Ganpule said that in many schools, teachers are required to handle multiple grades simultaneously due to inadequate staffing.

“In several schools, one teacher is assigned responsibilities across multiple schools, while many institutions with classes from Grade 1 to Grade 7 operate with only two or three teachers. Unless every class is provided with an adequate number of teachers, the quality of education will continue to suffer. The government must allocate sufficient funds to improve educational standards,” he said.

Basic Infrastructure Still Inadequate

The report also highlights serious deficiencies in basic and educational infrastructure across schools in Maharashtra:

3,537 schools do not have functional toilets for girls.

6,369 schools lack functional toilets for boys.

9,068 schools have no electricity connection.

23,609 schools do not have functional computer facilities.

23,855 schools lack internet connectivity.

3,032 schools do not have playgrounds.

Government Response

According to Sharad Gosavi, Director of Primary Education, nearly 17,000 schools in Maharashtra have fewer than 20 students.

He said that these schools have been provided with one regular teacher and one contractual teacher, but contractual teachers are not counted in the UDISE database.

He further stated that upcoming teacher recruitment drives will help address the shortage, while the government is also working to improve infrastructure and provide essential facilities in schools across the state.