4,133 West Bengal schools have no students but 19,502 teachers: CAG

A CAG performance audit of West Bengal's school education system under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan between 2019-20 and 2023-24 has found 4,133 schools with zero enrolled students but 19,502 teachers posted there. The audit also reported that 520 schools with a combined enrolment of 8,596 students had no teachers at all, while 5,152 schools serving over 1.76 lakh students had only one teacher each.

Dropout rates are severe, with a 28-42 per cent transition loss between upper-primary and higher-secondary stages. Among students who left school, 53 per cent cited poverty, 14 per cent unwillingness to continue, 13 per cent migration for work and 12 per cent marriage. The CAG also found 40,530 head teachers posted in schools with fewer than 150 students, violating Right to Education Act norms.

Teacher shortages stand at 31,684 at primary level and 2,058 at upper-primary level, while 79 per cent of higher-secondary schools have excess staff. The state government says it is working to rationalise teacher deployment and correct data discrepancies. The audit comes after the Supreme Court cancelled over 25,000 School Service Commission appointments over corruption-related irregularities.