Srinagar, Aug. 12 -- The number of schools fell from 23,165 in 2019-20 to 18,785 in 2023-24, a net loss of 4,380 schools, according to data shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer.

This decline in J&K is the largest in percentage terms among all states and Union Territories, reflecting a significant contraction in public educational infrastructure over the last five years.

Other states also witnessed school closures, with Madhya Pradesh losing 6,920 schools, Odisha 4,589, Assam 2,149 and West Bengal 1,149. While these states had larger absolute losses, their percentage declines were less steep compared to Jammu and Kashmir.

In contrast, Bihar and Raja...