Jammu- A significant number of government schools across Jammu and Kashmir are operating with little to no students, with official data revealing that 3,192 institutions have reported enrolment of less than 10 or zero since 2022.
In a written reply in the Assembly to BJP MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania, Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said that 2,518 teachers are currently posted in these low-enrolment schools.
The data shows a stark regional imbalance. The Jammu division accounts for 1,494 such schools with 1,934 teachers, while the Kashmir division has 1,698 schools with 584 teachers.
Among districts in the Jammu division, Kathua recorded the highest number of low-enrolment schools at 508, followed by Udhampur (188), Rajouri (174), Reasi (161) and Jammu (130). Other districts include Doda (111), Kishtwar (89), Samba (60), Ramban (56) and Poonch (17).
In the Kashmir division, Baramulla tops the list with 396 schools reporting negligible enrolment, followed by Shopian (270), Kupwara (228), Anantnag (168), Bandipora (156), Ganderbal (138), Pulwama (102), Budgam (96), Srinagar (90) and Kulgam (54).
The figures come alongside a broader restructuring of the school network in the Union Territory. Since 2019, the government has closed or merged 1,732 schools, with the majority, 1,427, located in the Jammu division and 305 in Kashmir.
Jammu district alone accounts for 517 such closures or mergers, followed by Kathua (238), Samba (125), Doda (113), Poonch (103), Rajouri (98), Udhampur (81), Kishtwar (72), Reasi (61) and Ramban (19). In Kashmir, Baramulla leads with 66 closures, followed by Ganderbal (46), Kupwara (44), Shopian (34), Anantnag (32), Bandipora (27), Pulwama (17), Budgam (16), Srinagar (14) and Kulgam (9).
The minister also highlighted the financial implications, stating that the government has spent over ₹13,816 crore on salaries in these schools since 2019. Of this, ₹13,770 crore was incurred in the Jammu division, compared to ₹46.66 crore in the Kashmir division.
District-wise, Udhampur recorded the highest salary expenditure at ₹2,600 crore, followed by Rajouri (₹1,925.70 crore), Kathua (₹1,830 crore) and Doda (₹1,680.77 crore) in Jammu. In Kashmir, Baramulla reported the highest expenditure at ₹9.54 crore.
The data underscores a growing mismatch between school infrastructure, staffing and actual student enrolment, raising questions about resource allocation and long-term planning in the education sector.
