Jaipur, September 28 – In a major shift, private schools in Rajasthan have, for the first time, enrolled more students than government institutions for the 2025–26 academic year.
According to official data, 49.9% of students are now in private schools, compared to 47.1% in government schools. Private-aided schools account for 2.8%, while the remaining 0.2% fall under other categories.
What makes this significant is the contrast in infrastructure: 33,548 private schools are drawing more students than the state’s 70,155 government schools. Analysts say parents are swayed by English-medium options, steady teacher attendance, and visible facilities in private campuses.
Critics, however, warn that the trend exposes longstanding underinvestment in public education. They argue that many families with means are migrating to private schools, while government initiatives like Praveshotsav continue to attract first-generation learners to public classrooms.
Experts believe the development raises pressing policy questions. Can Rajasthan rebuild trust in government schools through better teacher support, stronger leadership, and improved foundational learning? And will strict enforcement of RTE quotas and EWS seats ensure equitable access to private education?
For families choosing schools in 2025–26, the decision often comes down to fees, transport, language preference, and continuity through higher grades. Analysts say the latest data is a wake-up call to improve learning outcomes across both systems, not just track enrolment numbers.