47 schools in Kerala had zero students in 2024-25: Union Ministry data

There were 47 schools in Kerala with zero enrolments during the 2024-25 academic year, according to Union government data. There were 19 teachers in these schools.

However, none of them are government schools, clarifies the Samagra Shiksha Kerala. The 47 schools include both aided and unaided schools.

Some aided schools have seen their enrolment drop to zero these past few years. However, they have not reported that they are closing down. Their students have moved to other schools nearby. In theory though, those schools exist, say officials.

As many as 1.7% of Kerala schools have fewer than 10 students, according to Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data for 2024-25.

Data also show that 3.1% of the schools have between 11 and 20 students, 3.8% between 21 and 30 students, 4.5% between 31 and 40, and 4.4% between 41 and 50 students.

104 schools in 2023-24

There were 104 schools with zero enrolments in the 2023-24 academic session, according to UDISE+ data.

However, according to a reply by Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty to a question by the Opposition in the recently concluded session of the Assembly, the government is collecting details of government and aided schools that have closed down in the State since 2021. Details of government and aided schools that have fewer than 50 students are also being gathered.

According to the Economic Review 2024, the total number of schools with an average strength of fewer than 25 students was 1,197 in 2024-25. Of these, 452 schools were in the government sector and 745 in the aided sector. There were 34 government lower primary schools with an average number of students of fewer than 10, while the number of schools in this category was 160 in aided sector.

Highest in Pathanamthitta

The highest number of schools with fewer number of students was in Pathanamthitta (216), followed by Kottayam (168) and Kannur (148).

The Economic Review adds that among government schools with fewer number of students, the majority (91.4%) were lower primary schools. In the aided sector too, 86.6% of schools with fewer students were lower primary institutions.

In 2023-24, the total number of schools with average strength of less than 25 students was 961. Of these, 379 were in the government sector and 582 were aided institutions, according to the Economic Review.

Nationwide figures

Nearly 8,000 schools across the country have seen zero enrolments in the 2024-25 session. West Bengal accounted for 3,812 of these schools, followed by Telangana with 2,245 schools. However, 15 States and Union Territories have no schools with zero enrolments, according to UDISE+ data.