India, March 12 -- Thousands of schools in Uttarakhand have been functioning without principals or with just one teacher since last April, a state government report said.

"Around 3,504 schools rely on a single teacher, and out of 17,787 schools, 10,470 (approximately 59%) are without a principal, the 210-page report published on March 10 by the state rural development and migration commission said.

The report, throwing light on the challenges in the education sector of the state, revealed around 263 schools lack teachers for various subjects, with 249 of these located in hill districts. Additionally, in 180 schools, 242 teachers are each teaching only one student.

Also, 19,643 classes across the state have no students enrolled, while 8...