Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
India’s education system is facing a serious crisis. Nearly 94,000 government schools have closed in the past decade, while over 51,000 private schools have opened during the same period. This situation not only exposes the weaknesses of the government education system but also highlights the social inequality caused by increasing privatization. Article 21A of the Indian Constitution guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory education, but under current circumstances, this right appears to be gradually eroding.
Between 2014–15 and 2023–24, the number of government schools declined from 1,107,101 to 1,017,660—a decrease of approximately 89,441 schools—while the number of private schools increased from 288,164 to 331,108. This trend is particularly worrying for rural India, where access to education is becoming increasingly difficult for children from poor and disadvantaged sections.
A major cause of the crisis in government schools is the “School Merger Policy,” under which small schools with low enrolment are merged into larger ones. This has made access to schools more difficult for children in rural and tribal areas. Thousands of schools have closed in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, accounting for a large portion of the total closures. Furthermore, teacher shortages, poor infrastructure, and the ineffective implementation of schemes like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme are also major reasons for declining enrolment.
Certain provisions of the National Education Policy 2020, such as discouraging single-teacher schools, have also contributed to this process. As a result, enrolment in government schools has declined sharply, while the number of students in private schools has increased rapidly. Children from poor families are now forced to turn to private schools, but high fees pose a major barrier.
The number of private schools is rapidly increasing, particularly in urban areas. However, this growth raises several concerns. Private school fees are rising significantly, making it increasingly difficult for low- and middle-income families to access education. This growing privatization is turning education into a business rather than a social service.
Under the Right to Education Act, 25 percent of seats are reserved for children from economically weaker sections, but its effective implementation remains inadequate, further deepening social inequality. While the affluent receive education in private schools with better resources and facilities, the poor are often confined to government schools with limited resources.
This imbalance is also having a direct impact on dropout rates. Millions of children have dropped out of school in recent years, many of them adolescent girls. This is due to several factors, including poverty, child labour, family migration, distance to schools, and lack of safety. Girls, especially in rural areas, face greater barriers to accessing education. When families cannot afford private school fees and government schools are not available nearby, children are almost certain to drop out. This situation could further exacerbate unemployment and social inequality.
Privatization of education is not just an educational issue; it also deepens social and economic inequality. When all sections of society do not have equal educational opportunities, disparities in life outcomes widen. In India, only about 3 percent of GDP is spent on education, while the target of increasing it to 6 percent remains unfulfilled. This shortfall impacts women’s empowerment, employment opportunities, and the country’s overall economic development. If this situation continues, it could also pose a threat to democracy, as an educated society produces informed and responsible citizens.
To address this crisis, the government must take concrete and effective steps. The school merger policy should be reconsidered, and small schools in rural areas should be protected. Vacant teaching positions must be filled promptly, and greater emphasis should be placed on teacher training. Basic amenities such as toilets, clean drinking water, and digital resources must be ensured in all schools. The quality of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme should be improved, and private school fees should be regulated and monitored. The provisions of the Right to Education Act must be strictly enforced, and public investment in education should be increased to 6 percent of GDP.
In conclusion, the growing influence of privatization has become a serious challenge for government schools. The declining number of government schools and the increasing number of private schools indicate that education is gradually shifting from a fundamental right to a commercial enterprise. This shift disproportionately affects the poor and disadvantaged. If appropriate measures are not taken in time, this inequality will deepen further. It is essential to strengthen education—not as a market commodity, but as the foundation of social development—because the future of coming generations depends on it.
