Debate Over Government School Consolidation

A Niti Aayog report from June 2026 highlights that 94,000 government schools have closed over the past decade, reducing the total count from 1.1 million in 2014.

Critics argue the decline in school numbers indicates a government withdrawal from public education, while others dispute the conclusion that this reflects a failure of the NEP 2020.

The data confirms a net loss of nearly one lakh schools, fueling ongoing public debate regarding the impact of school consolidation on learning outcomes for the poor.