Archive · 31 Jul 2026
India’s Lone-Teacher Schools Need Urgent Reforms Across India
India has more than 100,000 schools that have only one teacher.
These schools serve about 3.4 million children, with an average of 34 kids per school.
The Union Ministry of Education told Parliament that this is a big problem.
A study called ASER found that only about a quarter of third‑grade kids can read a second‑grade text, and only a third can do simple subtraction.
Because of these gaps, the government says it needs to give more help and resources to these schools and their teachers.
Over 100,000 single‑teacher schools in India serve 3.37 million students.
Andhra Pradesh has the most single‑teacher schools, followed by Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Karnataka.
Only 23.4% of Grade 3 students can read a Grade 2 text; 33.7% can do basic subtraction (ASER 2025).
Single‑teacher schools make up 7% of all schools but highlight resource and teacher workload challenges.
The Union Ministry of Education disclosed the data in Parliament, calling for urgent reforms to basic education.
- Who
- Union Ministry of Education, teachers, and students in India
- What
- Data on over 100,000 single‑teacher schools and the need for urgent reforms
- When
- Disclosed in Parliament this week
- Where
- India, across states such as Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal
- Why
- To address educational gaps and improve basic school education
- Number of single-teacher schools
- 104,125
- Number of students served
- 3.37 million
- Average students per school
- 34
- States with most schools
- Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka
- ASER 2025 reading proficiency
- 23.4% of Grade 3 students read Grade 2 text
- ASER 2025 math proficiency
- 33.7% of Grade 3 students perform basic subtraction