Gujarat continues to struggle with alarming school dropout rates, according to the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024&ndash;25 report under the NEP 2020 framework. The data highlights weak retention, teacher shortages, and infrastructural gaps compared with the national average.
At the secondary level, 13.6% of Gujarat students drop out, against 8.2% nationally. Girls are disproportionately affected, with 14.9% leaving school compared with 12.4% of boys. Middle-stage dropouts stand at 5.8% versus the national 3.5%. Smooth transitions between school phases are also poor: 92.6% move from foundational to preparatory stage (98.6% nationally) and only 86.1% advance from preparatory to middle (92.2% nationally). Completion through Class 12 remains weak at 28.6%, far below the national 47.2%.
A Pattern of Struggle Since 2022 The problem has persisted for years. In 2022&ndash;23, almost 23% of students in Grades 9 and 10 dropped out, totaling over 1.15 lakh children, nearly 10 percentage points above the national average. Subsequent years saw slight improvement, with secondary-level dropout rates ranging between 16&ndash;18%, still above India&rsquo;s 10.9%. By 2024&ndash;25, the rate fell to 13.6%, but Gujarat lags behind the national reduction from 13.8% to 8.2%.
Teacher Shortages and Single-Teacher Schools Gujarat now has 2,936 single-teacher schools serving more than 1.05 lakh students, up from 1,754 schools with 71,506 students in 2022&ndash;23 and 2,462 schools with 87,322 students in 2023&ndash;24. These schools rely on one teacher for multiple grades and administrative duties, limiting quality instruction. The state also has 63 zero-enrolment schools and a pupil&ndash;teacher ratio of 30, among the highest in India.
Dr. Manish Doshi, Chief Spokesperson of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, criticized the government: "The condition of Gujarat&rsquo;s education system is deeply worrying. In many schools, a single teacher is running the entire institution. Burdened with both teaching and administrative responsibilities, they cannot maintain quality education, which directly harms students&rsquo; futures. This situation is the outcome of the BJP government&rsquo;s policies. Rural areas in particular suffer from a lack of teacher recruitment and infrastructure. The Congress demands immediate action to fill vacancies and strengthen the system."
He added that continued neglect would worsen urban&ndash;rural educational disparities.
Strains on Teachers and Weak Support Services Teachers face mounting pressures. Sunita Patel from Banaskantha said: "I handle multiple students across multiple grades on my own. Individual attention is impossible, and many students lose interest, particularly at the secondary level."
In Dahod, primary teacher Ramesh Parmar (name changed) shared: "We are expected to manage midday meals, paperwork, and administration, apart from teaching. Without adequate staff, the quality of education declines, and children in villages are the ones who suffer the most."
UDISE+ also highlights gaps in support services: only 70.6% of Gujarat schools conduct student medical check-ups (national average 75.5%), and private unaided schools trail in library access at 88.2% versus 91.7% nationwide.
Education experts warn that despite minor improvements in dropout rates, Gujarat&rsquo;s persistent weaknesses rising single-teacher schools, low retention, and inadequate health and support services signal a system under severe strain. Without sustained recruitment drives and investment beyond programs like Shala Pravesh Utsav, the state risks falling further behind national education trends.

Gujarat Schools Face Dropout, Teacher Crisis

UDISE+ 2024–25 shows Gujarat lagging in student retention and school support

Gujarat Schools Face Dropout, Teacher Crisis

UDISE+ 2024–25 shows Gujarat lagging in student retention and school support

August 29, 2025 | 19:31 IST