In Jharkhand, a staggering 7,930 state-run schools are operating with just one teacher each, according to Education Minister Ramdas Soren. Responding to a query in the state assembly today, Soren revealed that these schools serve 3.81 lakh students, highlighting a severe teacher shortage. Additionally, 103 schools have no students at all, yet employ 17 teachers, prompting a campaign modeled after the 'School Chalo Abhiyan' to re-enroll students.

The crisis extends beyond single-teacher schools. BJP MLA Raj Sinha pointed out that 3,636 schools lack headmasters, and of the 53,352 sanctioned teaching posts, 17,850 remain vacant. Soren assured the assembly that recruitment for 26,000 assistant teachers is underway, but the timeline for completion remains unclear. This shortage mirrors a national trend; a 2023 UNESCO report noted India faces a deficit of over 1 million teachers, disproportionately affecting rural states like Jharkhand.

The issue surfaced during a broader assembly session that included a debate on the 2025-26 budget. Jharkhand BJP chief Babulal Marandi criticized the government’s fiscal management, noting that only 58.82% of the targeted tax revenue was collected by December 2024. He also highlighted underspending in critical sectors—agriculture at 54%, drinking water at 18.6%, and Panchayati Raj at 36%—raising concerns about implementation. In contrast, JMM MLA Hemlal Murmu praised the budget as “historic,” emphasizing its focus on social security, with Rs 13,363 crore allocated for the ‘Maiyan Samman Yojana’ and Rs 3,850 crore for pensions.

Jharkhand’s education and budget woes reflect deeper governance challenges. With over 23 million people, the state’s literacy rate of 66.4% (2011 Census) lags behind the national average of 74%. Addressing the teacher shortage and improving expenditure efficiency could be pivotal for its development. The budget debate, set to continue on March 5, will likely shape these priorities further.