SRINAGAR: While the total number of private schools across India has marginally dropped over the past five years, Jammu and Kashmir has seen a steady and consistent decline, making it one of the few Union Territories to register a year-on-year fall in private school numbers, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on August 6.
In 2019-20, Jammu and Kashmir had 5,585 private schools. That number has decreased every year since—falling to 5,649 in 2020-21, then to 5,526 in 2021-22, 5,407 in 2022-23, and finally 5,452 in 2023-24. Although the data shows a marginal recovery of 45 schools in the last academic year, the overall trajectory remains downward.
By contrast, the all-India figures reflect a less consistent pattern. There were 3,37,499 private schools in 2019-20, with a modest increase in the following years before a dip to 3,23,430 in 2022-23. In 2023-24, the number rose again to 3,31,108—indicating that while the nationwide system is recovering from pandemic-related disruptions, Jammu and Kashmir’s private education sector has yet to bounce back in a similar fashion.
States like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh showed growth in their private school numbers, while others like Kerala and Maharashtra reported consistent declines. However, Jammu and Kashmir stands out for showing no significant recovery over a five-year period, unlike most other states or Union Territories.
The Ministry of Education, in its written reply, stated that school education is primarily a state subject. However, as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, States and Union Territories are expected to establish an independent State School Standards Authority (SSSA) to ensure adherence to minimum professional and quality standards across all schools, including private institutions.
The NEP also calls for the development of a School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework (SQAAF), which States are required to implement based on their governance models. It remains to be seen how Jammu and Kashmir will adapt or respond to these national mandates in light of its declining private education infrastructure.
