Telangana village school remains empty for two years as parents prefer private institutions

A government-run school in Bommapally village, located in Nalgonda mandal of Telangana, has remained without students for the last two years, though teachers, including the headmaster, continue to report for duty daily.

Empty classrooms stand in sharp contrast to the constant presence of staff, raising concerns about declining public school enrollment in the area.

Officials say this reflects a broader pattern across Nalgonda, where parents are increasingly choosing private schools for reasons including convenience, extended hours, and perceptions of better teaching quality.

Mandal Education Officer K Arundhathi said Nalgonda has 99 government schools, with five, including Bommapally, showing zero enrollment for years and officially closed in 2018–2019.

“Some families have migrated, and in some habitations only a few households remain. Many parents connect private schools with better social status,” she said.

Arundhathi added that other schools in the mandal, such as GPS Padmanagar and UPS Chandanpally, continue to attract students.

“The government has improved buildings, sanitation, uniforms, textbooks, and incentives. Many schools are functioning well because of these measures,” she said.

Locals in Bommapally described the situation differently. Saritha, a resident, said, “Not a single child comes. Three private school buses come to this village every day to pick up students.”

Another parent, Maheshwari, cited school timing as a reason for preferring private institutions.

“Government schools send children home early. We work in the fields and return late. If children come home early, they stay alone. Private schools drop them around 5 pm. It suits us better,” she explained.

Students themselves reported concerns about teaching quality. Lathasri, who studies at a private school, said parents believe government schools provide weaker instruction, while Akshara commented, “Teachers are not good in government schools.”

Reliable transportation also plays a role, with private buses offering daily pickups that accommodate the schedules of working families.

Education officials maintain that government schools have upgraded infrastructure and facilities.

Still, in villages like Bommapally, parental perception, convenience, and access to private schooling outweigh these improvements.

The trend highlights a significant challenge for Telangana’s public education system: whether infrastructure upgrades alone can reverse enrollment declines, or if direct engagement with rural families is required to restore confidence in government schools.