Uttarakhand report reveals shortage of principals and teachers in schools

Thousands of schools in Uttarakhand are struggling with a shortage of teachers and principals. A government report released on March 10, 2025, by the State Rural Development and Migration Commission has revealed alarming details about the state’s education system. It shows that nearly 3,500 schools have only one teacher, and over 10,000 schools are without a principal. The report also highlights the lack of student enrollment in many classes, raising concerns about the future of education in the state.

Widespread shortage of teachers and principals

According to the 210-page report, out of 17,787 schools in Uttarakhand, 10,470 schools (around 59%) have no principal. This means that more than half of the schools in the state are functioning without a head to manage the administration and academic progress.

Additionally, around 3,504 schools rely on a single teacher for all subjects and classes. This puts a significant burden on teachers and affects the quality of education. The problem is more severe in rural and hilly districts, where it is harder to find qualified teachers.

The report also mentioned that:

• 263 schools have no teachers for certain subjects, with 249 of these schools located in hill districts.
• In 180 schools, 242 teachers are teaching just one student each, which raises questions about the effective use of resources.
• 19,643 classes across the state have no students enrolled at all.
• 8,324 classes have only one student.

The commission highlighted that this shortage of teachers and principals is one of the key reasons for the migration of people from rural areas to cities. Poor educational infrastructure and lack of quality education are pushing families to seek better opportunities elsewhere.

The lack of teachers and principals is directly affecting the quality of education and student performance. Many students in rural and hilly areas are not receiving proper guidance and support. This situation has also led to high dropout rates in government schools.

The commission has suggested several solutions to address this crisis:

1. Hiring teachers on contract – The state government should appoint teachers on a temporary basis to fill immediate gaps.
2. Living near schools – Teachers should be encouraged to live within 8–10 km of the schools they are assigned to, ensuring they are more accessible to students.
3. Separate transfer policy – A special transfer policy for teachers should be introduced to ensure that rural schools have a stable teaching staff.
4. Special incentives – Teachers working in difficult or remote areas should be given extra incentives to encourage them to stay.
5. Use of technology – E-learning should be promoted in rural areas to make education accessible even in areas with a teacher shortage.

The report also praised the state government’s efforts in setting up cluster schools. Under this system, schools located within a 5 km radius with limited resources or low student-teacher ratios are merged. This helps improve resource management and teaching quality.

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Migration linked to poor education

The report connects the shortage of teachers and principals to the larger issue of migration in Uttarakhand. The State Rural Development and Migration Commission was set up in 2017 to study migration patterns and find solutions to stop people from leaving rural areas.

The first report, published in 2018, revealed that over 3.83 lakh people had left their villages between 2008 and 2018 in search of better education, healthcare, and job opportunities. Out of Uttarakhand's nearly 16,500 villages, around 734 villages were completely deserted by 2018.

The latest report shows that while permanent migration has slowed down since 2018, temporary migration has increased. Between 2018 and 2022, 24 villages were abandoned:

• 9 in Tehri Garhwal
• 5 in Champawat
• 3 each in Pauri Garhwal and Pithoragarh
• 2 each in Almora and Chamoli

Lack of road connectivity is another major issue faced by remote villages. According to the report:

• 6,291 villages still lack proper road connectivity.
• 82 villages have roads over 10 km away.
• 376 villages have roads between 6–10 km away.
• 5,828 villages have roads less than 5 km away.

Almora district has the worst road connectivity, while Haridwar is the only district where every village is connected by road.

Poor infrastructure and the shortage of teachers and principals are not the only issues. The report also highlighted that many schools lack basic facilities such as proper classrooms, drinking water, and toilets.

Teachers working in remote areas face difficult conditions, including lack of accommodation and poor transport. This discourages teachers from accepting postings in rural schools, worsening the teacher shortage problem.

The commission recommended that schools should be upgraded with better facilities and that teachers should be provided with housing and transport support to make rural postings more attractive.

Reverse migration and education improvements

Interestingly, the report noted that about 3.5 lakh people returned to Uttarakhand during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020, and 1.15 lakh returned during the second wave in 2021. However, 90% of these people eventually left again once the situation normalized.

The commission is now planning to release a report on reverse migration to study how COVID-19 affected livelihood patterns and to find ways to make rural living more sustainable.

To prevent further migration and strengthen the education sector, the report suggests that:

• More schools should be merged under the cluster model to ensure better use of resources.
• Focus should be placed on improving the quality of education in primary schools to retain students.
• Vocational training and career counseling should be introduced in rural schools to provide more career options for students.

Government’s response

The state education minister Dhan Singh Rawat did not respond to requests for comments about the report’s findings. However, officials said that the government is aware of the challenges and is working on solutions.

The state government has already announced a ₹700 crore project to upgrade 3,000 schools in Uttarakhand with improved facilities and better teaching resources.

The report emphasized that addressing the education crisis in Uttarakhand is essential to stop migration and improve the state’s overall development. Strengthening the rural education system will not only provide better opportunities for students but also help reduce the gap between rural and urban areas in terms of resources and infrastructure.

The shortage of teachers and principals in Uttarakhand's schools highlights the urgent need for reform in the state’s education sector. The recommendations provided by the commission offer a clear path to improving teacher availability, school infrastructure, and overall education quality. Strengthening the education system will play a crucial role in curbing migration and ensuring a better future for students in Uttarakhand.