By Roy Kupar Synrem
Across Meghalaya, schools have long been a symbol of hope — places where every child, regardless of background or geography, can dream of a better tomorrow. But there is a growing reality we cannot ignore: many schools today have more teachers than students. Classrooms remain empty while teachers outnumber the very children they are meant to teach. This is not a failure of our communities or our children. Rather, it is a reflection of demographic changes — migration and the rise of private schooling in urban areas. But if we continue to invest public resources into buildings without students, we risk weakening the entire education system.
Recent statistics and reports reveal a troubling reality: a large number of schools continue to operate with hardly any students — even as they employ teachers whose salaries are paid from public funds. This imbalance undermines educational quality, misallocates scarce resources, and calls for a serious reconsideration of school-rationalization policies. According to reports, there are 206 schools in Meghalaya with zero enrolment — that is, no students at all. On top of that, 2,269 schools report single-digit enrolments (fewer than 10 students). Many of these “schools” continue to draw full teacher salaries, costing the state substantial amounts while serving no or very few learners.This creates an unsustainable pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) on paper — too many teachers for too few students — which leads to inefficiency, wastage of public funds, and erosion of educational standards. In short: having many teachers but almost no students defeats the purpose of having a school.
Thus, closing or consolidating empty/near-empty schools is not just a matter of efficiency, but a necessary step toward strengthening Meghalaya’s overall education system.
Why Closure or Consolidation Makes Sense
Better Use of Public Resources: Funds currently spent on paying teachers in empty/near-empty schools could be reallocated to strengthen well-attended schools — improving infrastructure, learning materials, teacher development, and student support.
Modernization & Better Opportunities: Larger, consolidated schools can adopt modern teaching practices, digital learning tools, specialized instructors, and better resources — which small, isolated schools rarely manage to sustain.This enhances educational outcomes and reduces dropout risks, especially important in a state where dropout rates at secondary level remain high.
Important Caveats & What Must Be Ensured
It is natural for communities to feel emotional about a school that has existed for decades. It may carry memories, identity, and pride. But consolidation does not mean abandoning our roots. It means prioritising children’s futures over empty structures.
Therefore, the Government before taking a decision for shutting down or merging schools must take a balanced approach keeping in mind the following facts and circumstances:
Accessibility & Geographical locations: Meghalaya is mountainous and has many remote, sparsely populated areas. For some communities, even a “small” local school — though under-enrolled — may be the only accessible institution. Closing it without offering a feasible nearby alternative could deny children access to education.
Transportation & Safety Concerns: Merged/consolidated schools may be farther away. Without reliable transport, safe roads, and safe commuting options especially for younger children, consolidation could backfire, causing more dropouts in the future.
Quality Assurance: Simply merging students does not guarantee quality. The receiving schools must be equipped with proper infrastructure, trained and qualified teachers and a student support system to absorb additional students without compromising standards of education.
Therefore, any closure/consolidation policy must be accompanied by robust planning: mapping communities, ensuring transport, upgrading infrastructure, and consultation with local stakeholders. This way, we honour the past while building a stronger foundation for the next generation.
For Meghalaya, rationalizing the school system by phasing out or consolidating schools with negligible or no enrolment is not only justified but necessary. It offers a chance to redeploy resources efficiently, improve educational quality, and build a more sustainable school infrastructure. But this must not be an indiscriminate “shut-down drive.” Instead, it should be a calibrated, context-sensitive process: combining data, community consultations, and investments in transport and receiving schools.
Every rupee spent on a school with no students is a rupee taken away from a school full of children waiting for better opportunities. Meghalaya has the chance to reshape its education landscape not by taking away learning spaces, but by making them better, inclusive and impactful.
Parents, teachers, Government, and community leaders should unite to ensure that every child in Meghalaya walks into a classroom full of energy, full of friends, and full of hope.Because our children deserve more than buildings — they deserve the best education we can provide, together.
(The writer is an Advocate and President of the Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council. His views are of his own and do not necessarily reflect that of Highland Post. He can be reached at royk.synrem@gmail.com)
