37% of govt schools have less than 50 students on rolls: HRD Ministry

The data has been complied for the first time by the govt in an attempt to encourage states to rationalise, merge or close down schools that cater to such few students as it is a waste of resources.

Just over one-third or 37.36 per cent of the total number of government schools have an enrollment of fewer than 50 children, according to data compiled by the HRD ministry. 

The ignominious trio leading the charts are Goa (with 76.9 per cent government schools having less than 50 students), Himachal Pradesh (73.2 per cent) and Uttarakhand (72.3 per cent). 

On the other hand, Chandigarh, Delhi and Bihar are among the ones with the lowest number of schools that have fewer than 50 children. Chandigarh has 115 government schools and all have over 50 students studying.

The data has been complied for the first