Nearly 1 lakh schools lack girls’ toilets, says NITI Aayog report
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New Delhi: A report by NITI Aayog on India’s school education system has highlighted major gaps in infrastructure and resources across government schools, revealing that nearly one lakh schools still do not have functional toilets for girls.
According to the report, 98,592 government schools lack usable girls’ toilets, while 61,540 schools have no functional toilets at all. Although the share of schools with working toilets increased from 85.17 per cent in 2014 to 94 per cent in 2024–25, the report said critical deficiencies continue to affect the education system.
India currently has 14.71 lakh schools catering to more than 24.69 crore students.
The report, based on UDISE+ 2024–25 data, also pointed to uneven access to electricity in schools. Around 1.19 lakh schools still do not have functional electricity connections, creating difficulties in maintaining a proper learning environment.
Basic hygiene facilities also remain inadequate in many institutions. Around 14,505 schools do not have functional water sources, while nearly 59,829 schools lack hand-washing facilities, raising concerns over student health and sanitation.
Teacher shortages continue to be another major challenge, especially in remote and sparsely populated regions. More than one lakh schools across the country operate with only a single teacher, accounting for over seven per cent of all schools.
The report noted that in such schools, one teacher is often required to handle multiple grades alongside administrative duties, leading to multi-grade classrooms that reduce individual attention and affect learning outcomes.
Resource allocation issues were also highlighted in the findings. A total of 7,993 schools reported zero student enrolment, with the highest numbers recorded in West Bengal and Telangana. Despite having no students, these schools continue to receive financial and human resources due to outdated records, exposing gaps in educational planning and monitoring.
While dropout rates have improved compared to previous years, the report said 11.5 per cent of students still drop out at the secondary level.
The findings also showed a steady decline in enrolment in government schools, which dropped from 71 per cent in 2005 to 49.24 per cent in 2024–25, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among parents with the public education system.
India’s school network has also shrunk significantly over the past decade. The number of schools declined from 15.58 lakh in 2017–18 to 14.71 lakh in 2024–25 — a reduction of nearly 92,000 schools.
According to the report, the decline is linked to school consolidation and rationalisation measures carried out under schemes such as Samagra Shiksha.