According to data from UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) as of September 30, 394 schools across the state spanning all categories have zero student enrolment.
Additionally, nearly 8,000 schools have fewer than 10 students enrolled. Maharashtra has registered a total of 2,11,86,943 students, which is approximately 7,000 more than last year. However, registration data for nearly five lakh students is still pending, suggesting the actual number may be even higher. Despite this, the growing number of near-empty schools in rural areas is cause for serious concern.
District-Wise Breakdown of Zero Enrolment Schools:
Pune tops the list with 37 schools having no student enrolment
Ratnagiri follows with 24 such schools,
Nagpur with 23, and
Buldhana with 21
Ratnagiri: 713 schools
Pune: 627 schools
Raigad: 682 schools
Sindhudurg: 569 schools
Mumbai Suburban: 360 schools
Mumbai City: 34 schools
Thane: 199 schools
Palghar: 124 schools
In several other districts, 100 to 300 schools fall into this low-enrolment category. Overall, 7,946 schools across Maharashtra have only 1 to 10 students enrolled.
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