Bhubaneswar, August 8: Concerned over the sharp rise in the number of Single-Teacher Schools, the Odisha Government has written to all the district Collectors to immediately deploy teachers in such schools for compliance with the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

Across Odisha, as many as 1,458 schools operate with just a single teacher in 2025-26 academic session, up from 1,089 in 2024-25 and 1,065 in 2023-24, according to the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report released by the Union Ministry of Education.

In a letter to the Collectors, School and Mass Education Department Secretary N Thirumala Naik on August 6, cited the recent latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report, released by the Union Ministry of Education UDISE+ data which shows that a considerable number of Government Schools in the State are presently functioning with only one teacher.

“I am to invite your attention to the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, particularly Sections 19 and 25 read with the Schedule appended thereto, which prescribe the minimum norms and standards for schools, including the prescribed Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) and minimum number of teachers required in elementary schools,” said Naik.

He said, “Recent UDISE+ data shows that a considerable number of Government Schools in the State are presently functioning with only one teacher. Such a situation adversely affects the quality of education and is inconsistent with the norms prescribed under the RTE Act.”

He urged the Collectors to immediately review status of all Single Teacher Schools and take urgent steps to deploy teachers in such institutes.

“You are, therefore, requested to immediately review status of all Single Teacher Schools in your district and take urgent steps to deploy/adjust teachers so that every school has at least the minimum number of teachers as prescribed under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the applicable norms. Priority may be accorded to schools having higher student enrolment,” said Naik.

“It is requested to complete the rationalization of such schools in a month and furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) in this regard to this Department within 15 days of receipt of this letter,” added Naik.

Notably, the number of single-teacher schools in Odisha has risen sharply between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years, leaving nearly 60,000 students dependent on just one teacher to teach all classes and subjects.

As per the latest UDISE+ report, Odisha had 1,458 single-teacher schools in 2025-26, up from 1,089 in 2024-25 and 1,065 in 2023-24. The latest figure represents an increase of 369 schools, or nearly 34%, in just one academic year, and 393 schools, or nearly 37%, over the past two academic sessions.