IN a bid to strengthen the education system and ensure quality learning across government schools, the Chhattisgarh Government has announced the commencement of teacher recruitment in a phased manner. As part of the first phase, appointments will be made against 5,000 vacant posts, setting the stage for a wider overhaul of classroom teaching and resource allocation. With preparations already underway at the departmental level, the recruitment initiative is expected to improve the teaching-learning process across schools and provide students with better access to quality education. This drive is part of a larger reform that includes the rationalisation of schools and teachers in both urban and rural areas.

 

According to official sources, the rationalisation process, currently in progress, aims to redistribute teachers based on student strength and academic needs. Once this process concludes, a precise assessment of remaining vacancies will be carried out, following which the next phases of recruitment will begin. The State currently has 30,700 primary schools with an average of 21.84 students per teacher and 13,149 middle schools with a student-teacher ratio of 26.2, figures that exceed the national average. However, 212 primary schools are running without any teacher, while 6,872 have only one teacher managing all classes. At the middle level, 48 schools have no teachers and 255 schools are staffed by a single teacher.

 

Highlighting the pressing need for rationalisation, the Education Department pointed out that 362 schools across State have teachers, but no students. In urban areas, 527 schools report a student-teacher ratio of 10 or less, 1,106 schools fall in the 11-20 range and 837 schools have between 21 and 30 students per teacher. However, 245 schools operate with a ratio exceeding 40, indicating a teacher shortfall that hampers the delivery of education. As a part of the rationalisation exercise, teachers from under-enrolled schools are being redeployed to schools suffering from staff shortages. This step is expected to resolve the problem of teacher-less and single-teacher schools, enhance resource utilisation, and reduce operational costs. It will also eliminate the need for students to seek fresh admissions after each school level, as more schools—primary to higher secondary—will operate within the same premises. Officials noted that rationalisation will also bring continuity in learning, reduce dropout rates and provide improved infrastructure like science laboratories, libraries and computer facilities at one location.

 

The initiative is aligned with the state’s goal of offering seamless and inclusive education to every child. According to data from the Education Department, out of 10,463 government schools in Chhattisgarh, only 166 will be merged or adjusted under rationalisation. Of these, 133 are rural schools with fewer than 10 students located within one kilometre of another functioning school. In urban areas, 33 schools with fewer than 30 students and located within 500 metres of another school are being considered for adjustment. Importantly, 10,297 schools will remain operational without any change.

 

The government clarified that this restructuring will not adversely impact the education of any child. On the contrary, it aims to ensure that every student has access to qualified teachers and improved academic resources. Schools with consistently low enrolment that cannot offer robust academic support will be merged with nearby institutions to provide a better academic environment. The rationalisation effort is expected to bring subject-specific teachers to more schools, expand access to libraries and labs, and ensure more balanced pupil-teacher ratios. Students from schools with very low enrolment will be shifted to nearby better-equipped schools for continued and enhanced learning. The initiative, which covers both urban and rural regions, marks a decisive step by the Chhattisgarh government to strengthen the foundation of school education.

 

The intent, officials say, is clear—every child in the state must have access to good, equitable, and uninterrupted education. As recruitment and rationalisation move in tandem, the State’s education system is set for a more balanced and efficient future. The drive is not only expected to make optimal use of available teaching staff but also ensure a higher standard of learning outcomes across government schools in Chhattisgarh.