AP govt schools reverse six-year enrolment share decline

Government schools in Andhra Pradesh have recorded their first improvement in enrolment share in six years, according to UDISE data placed before the Legislative Council. The share of students in government schools rose from 41.40 per cent in 2025-26 to 42.34 per cent in 2026-27, reversing a decline that had brought it down from 56.96 per cent in 2021-22. Private schools saw their share fall from 57.47 per cent to 56.57 per cent in the same period.

The absolute numbers, however, show a different trend. Total government school enrolment fell marginally from 34.93 lakh to 34.62 lakh, while private school enrolment dropped more sharply from 48.49 lakh to 46.25 lakh. Overall student enrolment in the state declined from 84.37 lakh to 81.76 lakh. The improvement in government school share is therefore due to a steeper decline in private school numbers rather than a rise in government school strength.

HRD Minister Nara Lokesh has focused on strengthening the government school system. The government told the Legislative Council that no government or aided schools were closed in the last two academic years. The data marks the first measurable reversal in a trend that had seen government schools lose ground to private institutions for six years.