Jagan cites drop in AP government school enrolment amid private-school rise
YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy questions AP's enrolment trends, citing UDISE+ data that government school numbers fell between 2023-24 and 2025-26 while private school enrolment rose. He calls for an explanation of the decline and contrasts it with infrastructure and digital-learning initiati
Key takeaways
- Jagan Mohan Reddy asserts a sharp decline in AP government school enrolment between 2023-24 and 2025-26 based on UDISE+ data.
- Private school enrolment increases during the same period, challenging government claims about shifts from private to public schooling.
- The opposition ties enrolment trends to broader education policy and past infrastructure and digital-learning initiatives.
What Happened
YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted that enrolment in Andhra Pradesh’s government schools declined significantly when comparing the 2023-24 and 2025-26 academic years, based on UDISE+ data. He highlighted a drop in government school enrolment from 4,050,116 to 3,493,450, a reduction of 556,666 students, and noted reductions in government and government-aided schools (government schools 44,222 versus about 45,000 earlier; aided schools 991 down to 797). In contrast, privately managed schools saw an increase in enrolment from 4,553,380 in 2023-24 to 4,840,296 in 2025-26. Reddy argued that if more than 1.10 lakh students had moved from private to government schools, overall public-school enrolment should have risen, not fallen.
He linked the trend to policy directions and questioned the government’s claim about shifting dynamics between private and government institutions. Reddy emphasized education’s role for economically weaker sections and criticized the current administration for weakening the public-education system and reversing gains achieved under the previous YSRCP government.
Reddy also referenced prior state-era initiatives, including infrastructure coverage under the Mana Badi–Nadu Nedu programme across 56,703 government schools, welfare hostels, and junior colleges, as well as digital-learning measures like tablets for Class VIII students and teachers, interactive flat panels for higher classes, and smart televisions in primary schools. He mentioned English-medium education, bilingual textbooks, spoken English training, and a proposed International Baccalaureate system as part of the broader education-policy landscape during different administrations. A government response or official statement on the enrolment figures was not included in the provided material.
Why It Matters
The dispute centers on the direction of public education in Andhra Pradesh and the effectiveness of government efforts to attract students to government schools. If private-school enrolment continues to outpace government-school growth, it could influence debates over funding, policy priorities, and future reforms intended to strengthen public education for economically weaker sections. The contrast between rising private-school enrolment and falling government-school numbers may also affect public perception of the state’s education policy and the perceived impact of prior infrastructure and digital-learning programs.
Background
The statements reference UDISE+ data comparing the 2023-24 and 2025-26 academic years. They also allude to policy and program history, including Mana Badi–Nadu Nedu infrastructure investments in government schools between 2019 and 2024, as well as digital-learning initiatives and moves toward English-medium education and potential International Baccalaureate adoption, linked to previous administrations and ongoing policy discussions.
Key Facts
- Enrolment in government schools declined from 4,050,116 in 2023-24 to 3,493,450 in 2025-26.
- Government and government-aided schools declined from 44,222 and 991 to 44,222 and 797 respectively (numbers reflect the cited ranges and transitions).
- Private-school enrolment rose from 4,553,380 in 2023-24 to 4,840,296 in 2025-26.
- The 1.10 lakh figure refers to the alleged number of students shifting from private to government schools, used to challenge the government’s claim.
- Mana Badi–Nadu Nedu infrastructure work covered 56,703 government schools, welfare hostels and junior colleges between 2019 and 2024.
- Digital-learning measures cited include tablets for Class VIII students, interactive flat panels for higher classes, and smart televisions in primary schools; English-medium education, bilingual textbooks, and spoken-English training were part of prior policy discussions, with a proposed International Baccalaureate system mentioned.
- Jagan described the enrolment changes as a concern for education of economically weaker sections and accused the current government of weakening public education and reversing prior gains.
What Happens Next
The provided material does not include a formal government response or announced next steps. The current account notes that Jagan demanded an explanation for the decline in government-school enrolment alongside the rise in private-school admissions, signaling a call for clarifications and possible policy reassessment.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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