Despite 80% increase in education budget, Madhya Pradesh schools lack most basic of amenities: Report

Over the past seven years, Madhya Pradesh's government has raised spending on education by 80%, increasing the budget from ₹16,226.08 crore in 2016–17 to ₹29,468.03 crore in 2023–24.

Despite the significant increase in funding, many government schools continue to face challenges with inadequate basic amenities and infrastructure, preventing improvements in their overall conditions.

At the Government Secondary School in Khajuri Kalan, Bhopal, students endure unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

The school, offering education up to Class 8, is in poor condition, with classes held in a tin shed with damp walls and leaking roofs during rain.

The toilets are non-functional, and there is no access to drinking water.

Mansi Yadav, a student, shared her fear: "Once the roof fell on our madam. I am afraid that the roof may fall again, and I cannot focus on my studies."

Another student, Madhu Yadav, expressed concern, "There is a lot of dirt. Water comes in from the windows, and our books get wet."

The situation remains unchanged despite several complaints to the administration, highlighting the discrepancy between government spending and actual conditions on the ground.

A concerning image of the state's educational infrastructure is presented in the 2023–24 Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) report: Around 13,200 schools have a single teacher on duty.

There are over 3,600 schools without separate restrooms for girls. More than 10,700 schools lack functional restrooms.

There are around 7,950 schools without handwashing facilities. Over 7,400 schools lack access to drinking water.

The learning environment is seriously affected by these drawbacks, especially for female students, which raises hygiene issues and dropout rates.

Madhya Pradesh's government schools have seen a sharp drop in student enrollment, which goes opposite to the increasing funding allocation.

Over 12 lakh students left government schools between 2016 and 2024, according to data provided in the state assembly.

Over 635,000 students left Classes 1–5, and around 483,100 students left Classes 6–8. More than 104,400 students from Classes 9–12 left school.

The school education minister linked this fall to a number of causes, including dropout rates, better data tracking, and a decline in the population in the 0–6 age group.

Opposition leaders counter that students are being turned off by the awful conditions of schools.

"The government has increased the budget by 80%, yet children are losing interest in schools," said Congress MLA Pratap Grewal, raising doubts about the efficiency of the additional budget.

"Where is the money going?" he emphasized how urgent it is to address the terrible circumstances in schools.

Responding to the criticism, BJP spokesperson Ajay Dhawale defended the government's efforts, saying, "The Congress, which destroyed the education system during its rule, cannot question us. The BJP government is committed to improving education, as seen with the establishment of CM Rise Raj Schools."