India records over 100,000 single‑teacher schools, Andhra Pradesh tops list with 16,357

Data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) for the 2025‑26 year shows that 1,00,843 schools across India operate with only one teacher. Andhra Pradesh has the highest count, with 16,357 single‑teacher schools, followed by Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Other states with large numbers include Karnataka (8,042), Uttar Pradesh (7,874), Rajasthan (7,200) and West Bengal (6,769), together accounting for about 65% of the total.

The Ministry of Education presented the figures in Parliament, noting that teacher recruitment, service conditions and deployment are state responsibilities. Education experts say the national pupil‑teacher ratios mask regional disparities, and the reliance on a single teacher limits individual attention and learning outcomes, especially in rural and under‑resourced areas. The situation is compounded by infrastructure gaps, limited resources and challenges in attracting teachers to remote locations.

Government programmes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Right to Education Act aim to improve access, but staffing shortages persist. The issue has drawn criticism from political leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president YS Sharmila, who highlighted the need for stronger recruitment and support for teachers.