Telangana loses 1,969 government schools in a year as private schools gain ground
Data from the Department of School Education shows a significant decline in government schools in Telangana, while private school enrollment and numbers continue to rise. Despite the drop in government institutions, the state's total teaching workforce has expanded, primarily driven by private sector hiring.
Why it matters
The shift from public to private education in India reflects changing parental preferences and poses challenges for the sustainability of state-funded schooling systems.
The number of government schools in Telangana fell by 1,969 in 2025-26 from the previous year, while private schools increased by 771 during the same period, according to data from the Department of School Education’s Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
The shift in Telangana’s school education landscape becomes more pronounced when the data from the past decade is evaluated. Private schools have steadily gained the attention of parents and students, while the role of government schools, which saw a sharp rise in enrolment during the COVID-19 pandemic, has once again begun to shrink significantly.
Between 2016-17 and 2025-26, the total number of schools in Telangana fell from 43,134 to 41,762, a drop of 3.2%. Paradoxically, overall student enrolment rose by 16.8% during the same period. While enrolment in government schools declined by 8.2%, private schools recorded a 41% increase.
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