Srinagar: Government schools in Jammu and Kashmir continue to face significant challenges due to an imbalanced pupil-teacher ratio (PTR), raising concerns about the quality of education provided across the region. Official data reveals that 1,330 schools are currently operating with just one teacher, severely limiting the learning opportunities for over 31,000 students in these institutions.
These single-teacher schools are mainly located in rural and remote areas, where access to quality education is already a major issue. In many cases, the lone teacher is responsible for teaching multiple grades and subjects, further compromising educational outcomes.
Currently, the PTR in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir stands at 1:16, which is below the national average of 1:30. While this ratio may appear favorable on the surface, the distribution of teachers remains highly uneven, with some schools being severely understaffed while others are overstaffed despite low student numbers.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that 119 schools in the region have reported no student enrollment at all. At the same time, 238 teachers remain posted at these empty schools, highlighting inefficiencies in the allocation of teaching resources.
Private schools in the region, by contrast, maintain a PTR of 1:20 and employ at least seven teachers per institution. G.N. Var, President of the Private School Association of Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK), pointed out the stark contrast in staffing structures between private and government schools. “In more than 5,400 private schools in Jammu and Kashmir, we have a PTR of 1:20, with at least seven teachers per school,” he said.
Government schools in J&K have also witnessed a sharp decline in enrollment. Nearly 4,400 government-run schools have been closed due to “zero or extremely low” enrollment. The total number of government schools in the region has decreased from 23,117 to 18,723, with primary schools being hit the hardest. Nearly 30% of public primary schools have either merged with nearby institutions or been removed from the UDISE records.
Of the 12,977 primary schools that were once operational, only 8,966 remain, further reducing the reach of the education system. The overall number of government and private schools in Jammu and Kashmir has dropped from 28,805 to 24,279.
Enrollment data from the 2023-24 and 2022-23 academic years shows a decrease of 61,451 students in government schools. This trend is consistent with findings from the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, which indicated a decline in the enrollment of children aged 6-14 years in government schools in Jammu and Kashmir, dropping from 58.3% in 2018 to 55.5% in 2022.
Efforts to address the issue were made when Rising Kashmir reached out to Dr. Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Director of School Education Kashmir, and Abdul Hamid Fani, Incharge Joint Director, but neither responded to requests for comment.
However, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Masood Itoo, assured on November 13, 2024, that the government is actively addressing the recruitment backlog in the education sector. During an event at SKICC, she announced that vacant positions for lecturers, professors, and teachers would soon be filled as part of an ongoing recruitment initiative.
While recruitment plans are underway, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will resolve the long-standing challenges in Jammu and Kashmir’s education system. With issues such as low PTR, school closures, and declining enrollment continuing to plague the region, urgent action is needed to ensure equitable access to quality education. Only through targeted improvements in staffing and resource allocation can the education system hope to meet the needs of all students in the region.
