Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Nalgonda Tops Nation in Zero-Enrolment Government Schools
Nalgonda district in India has the most government schools with no students.
Out of 5,149 such schools in the whole country, 315 are in Nalgonda.
Most of these are primary schools, and many are in areas where tribal people live.
Parents moved their kids to private schools thinking they were better, but the high fees caused financial problems.
Villagers say teachers and officials did not do enough to tell people about the good quality of government schools.
Now, people are asking the government to reopen these schools so that poor children can go back to school and get free meals.
Nalgonda district has 315 zero-enrolment government schools, the highest in the country, accounting for 7% of the national total.
Most of these schools are government primary schools, with a few high and upper primary schools.
Many schools are located in tribal-dominated areas, and parents initially moved children to private schools due to perceived better quality education.
High private school fees have caused financial burdens for families, with some paying up to Rs 80,000 annually.
Villagers blame teachers and officials for not creating awareness about the quality of government schools and for advising parents to send children to private schools.
- Who
- Residents and officials in Nalgonda district, India
- What
- Nalgonda district has the highest number of zero-enrolment government schools in the country
- When
- The trend has been ongoing, with 315 schools reporting zero enrolment in the 2025-26 academic year
- Where
- Nalgonda district, Telangana, India, particularly in six tribal-dominated mandals
- Why
- Parents shifted children to private schools due to perceived better quality education, but high fees and lack of awareness about government school quality contributed to the decline
- Total Zero-Enrolment Schools in India
- 5,149
- Zero-Enrolment Schools in Nalgonda
- 315
- Percentage of National Total
- 7%
- Government Primary Schools in Nalgonda
- 300
- High Schools in Nalgonda
- 4
- Upper Primary Schools in Nalgonda
- 8
- Tribal-Dominated Mandals with Schools
- 6
- Annual Fees for Private School (Bommapally)
- Rs 56,000
- Annual Fees for Private School (Bantugudem)
- Rs 80,000