Archive · 2 Aug 2026
West Bengal Schools Lack Teachers, Dropout Rates Rise
A big audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General looked at schools in West Bengal.
It found that 520 schools had no teachers, so 8,596 students were left without a teacher.
Many kids stopped going to school, especially in upper primary classes where 42 out of every 100 kids left.
The main reason was money problems, followed by kids getting married early or having trouble getting to school.
Even though 12% of schools had too many students for the classrooms, the biggest issue was the lack of teachers.
520 West Bengal schools reported by CAG audit have no teachers.
8,596 students are affected by the teacher shortage.
Upper primary dropout rate is 42%, higher than the 28% at higher secondary level.
Financial constraints cause 53% of dropouts, with marriage and distance also factors.
12% of schools have an adverse student‑classroom ratio.
- Who
- Comptroller and Auditor General of India
- What
- Audit found 520 schools in West Bengal without teachers and high dropout rates
- When
- Audit period: July 2024 – March 2025; report published last month
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- Financial constraints, marriage, and distance to schools cause dropouts
- Schools without teachers
- 520
- Students impacted
- 8,596
- Upper primary dropout rate
- 42%
- Higher secondary dropout rate
- 28%
- Primary dropout cause
- Financial constraints (53%)
- Adverse student‑classroom ratio
- 12%