The West Bengal government has formed a committee to decide the future of 933 primary and high schools that have reported no students for several years. School Education Minister Dipak Burman said the government is examining what can be done with the buildings, land, playgrounds and other assets of these institutions.

The move comes amid a wider review of zero-enrolment schools across the state. According to the latest UDISE+ data, 4,133 schools in West Bengal reported zero enrolment during the 2025-26 academic year, with 19,502 teachers listed against them. The state has ordered physical verification to establish the actual status of these schools and assess their infrastructure.

What Will Happen To 933 Schools?

Speaking to reporters at his residence in Falakata, Alipurduar district, Burman said several of the 933 schools had effectively stopped functioning because they had remained without students for years.

Also Read | Who is Akash? Senior Maoist leader Asim Mondal held in West Bengal

Their unused infrastructure has now become part of the government’s discussion. One proposal is to allow other government departments to use the properties where appropriate.

“The thought is whether there can be an interdepartmental exchange. We will give it to the government and they will decide next,” Burman said, adding that the education department would examine the proposal.

The plan does not mean that every zero-enrolment school will automatically be closed or converted. The government is also carrying out physical verification because UDISE+ records may not always reflect the situation on the ground.

Picture of an empty classroom
ZOOM IMAGE
Picture of an empty classroom | Representational Image

West Bengal Zero-Enrolment Schools Under Review

The 933 schools are part of a much larger group of institutions listed with zero enrolment. The latest UDISE+ figures put the number in West Bengal at 4,133.

The government has directed district administrations to inspect these schools and prepare details about their land, buildings and other facilities. The exercise is also intended to determine whether unused infrastructure could serve other public purposes.

The issue is closely linked to the uneven distribution of teachers across schools. Government data shows that 6,769 schools have only one teacher, serving around 2.3 lakh students. A teacher deployment policy allows staff and sanctioned posts from zero or very low-enrolment schools to be shifted to institutions facing shortages.

Also Read | 32 Kolkata tourists missing in Nepal: Here are all the helpline numbers for you

Remote Schools In West Bengal To Continue

Burman said the government would not apply the same approach to schools in remote locations where there are few students and no nearby alternatives.

“Even if there are schools in remote areas where students are less, population is less and no other school nearby, that school will continue to function. But, if we see that there are a number of schools nearby, we will have to think about these,” he said.

On teacher shortages, Burman said the ongoing recruitment process was expected to improve staffing levels.

“The process is going on and hopefully … by 2027 academic year, every school will have the required teachers,” he said.

Teacher Recruitment And School Staffing

The staffing issue comes after the Supreme Court’s April 2025 judgment cancelled the appointments of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching staff recruited through the 2016 process. A fresh recruitment exercise has since been initiated, including more than 35,000 assistant-teacher vacancies for Classes 9 to 12, according to the information provided.

For now, the committee’s review of the 933 schools will determine how their unused properties are handled, while remote schools and institutions serving communities without nearby alternatives remain under consideration for continued operation.

FAQs

Why is West Bengal reviewing 933 schools?

The schools have had no students for several years, leaving their buildings, land and other assets largely unused.

Will remote-area schools be closed?

No. Minister Dipak Burman said remote schools with few students and no nearby alternatives will continue to function.