Why Government Schools Decline & Private Schools Grow?
- Feb. 28, 2026, 6:51 p.m.
The school education system in India is experiencing a marked shift, and the government information presented in the Rajya Sabha depicts a steady fall in public schools with a rise in private schools. The MP John Brittas from CPI(M) raised worries about the contracting count of govt. schools, mentioning that above 18,000 schools have closed over the past 5 years. He explained the trend as an alert for the nation’s public education system and shared his worries on social media, referring to official information.
The figures show a consistent decline in the government. school infrastructure, which has traditionally backed low-priced education, particularly in economically disadvantaged and rural regions. The development in private schools reflects raising demand among families for alternative learning choices at the same time.
Government Schools Decline in India
The total number of govt schools sank from 10,32,049 in 2020–21 to 10,13,322 in 2024–25, entailing authorities shut 18,727 government schools over 5 years based on the official information. This decrease reflects a countrywide shrinkage in the public-school network and invokes concerns about access to low-cost education, specifically for students from economically weaker and rural communities who rely strongly on government schools.
Demographic shifts and mergers of low-enrolment schools as reasons, the scale of fall suggests larger structural modifications in the education system, while policymakers often refer to rationalisation.
Expansion of Private Schools in India
Private schools have flourished greatly, specifically in recent years, and the official information demonstrates that their count increased from 3,31,108 in 2023–24 to 3,39,583 in 2024–25, contributing 8,475 new private schools in a year. This sharp development shows a firmer presence of private players in the parental preference for private schooling choices. The recent surge indicates solid momentum, even though the numbers fluctuated somewhat over the past 5 years.
Trend of Government Schools
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- 2020–21: 10,32,049
- 2021–22: 10,22,386
- 2022–23: 10,16,010
- 2023–24: 10,17,660
- 2024–25: 10,13,322
These figures depict a downward fall in spite of small fluctuations in certain years.
Trend of Private Unaided Schools
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- 2020–21: 3,40,753
- 2021–22: 3,35,844
- 2022–23: 3,23,430
- 2023–24: 3,31,108
- 2024–25: 3,39,583
These numbers show a healing phase followed by firm development in recent years.
States Showing Major Transformation
State-level trends disclose substantial regional fluctuations. UP continues to record the greatest number of private and government schools, with private schools increasing to 1,04,508 in 2024–25. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have undergone a notable fall in government school counts, pointing to a shrinkage in public education infrastructure. In the meantime, Maharashtra and Karnataka have held a comparatively stable private school presence with moderate variations.
On the other hand, West Bengal has seen declines in private and government schools in recent years. These variations suggest that demographic patterns, socio-economic conditions and policy decisions efficiently shape educational infrastructure trends throughout states.
This Shift Matters
The shutdown of government schools can disproportionately impact remote and rural communities where public schools often serve as the only accessible educational source. It raises pressure on economically weaker families that depend on subsidised or free schooling as well. Government schools offer crucial assistance like free textbooks, basic infrastructure and mid-day meals for many marginalised students. Therefore, their shutdown increases serious worries about social equity and educational access.
In the meantime, the elaboration of private schooling reflects increasing parental demand for quality but raises questions about expanding inequality and affordability as well. The data signals a substantial shift in India’s education sector. The loss of 18,727 government schools, with the increase of 8,475 private schools in just 1 year, proposes a transformation in how education is being offered.
A contraction in the public-school network could undermine access to low-cost education for millions, whereas private schools may support meeting the increasing demand. This growing trend evokes significant policy questions, such as:
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- Can India handle educational equity while government schools decline?
- Will the rising dependence on private schooling reshape the education system permanently?
The answers will determine learning choices for future generations.
