Ghost Teachers and Shuttered Schools: MP Education Scandal Exposed

Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh: Alarming revelations from Narsinghpur district have brought to light the issue of teachers at government schools across India drawing full salaries despite not attending schools or teaching children. This case, which echoes stories from many villages and families nationwide, illustrates an endemic problem: teachers are being paid while thousands of children are left without education.

Salaries Without Service

Reports indicate that in Narsinghpur, eight government schools have been shut for the last eight years. Despite having no students and crumbling infrastructure, the teachers assigned to these schools continue to receive their monthly pay on time. Local villagers say their children must travel 8 to 10 kilometers to reach the nearest functioning school in another district because their local schools have been closed for years.

How Big Is the Problem?

According to local education officials, these eight schools together have 13 teachers on the payroll, even though student enrollment is zero. Attempts have been made to transfer these teachers to other schools where staff are needed, but the issue persists. The salary bill for these eight shuttered schools alone is estimated at 3.5 to 4 million rupees per month. Extrapolate this across thousands of schools nationwide, and the amount lost to absentee or non-working teachers stretches into hundreds of crores each month.

Official Admission, No Action

What’s even more shocking is that the state’s own education minister has acknowledged that over 500 teachers are drawing salaries without performing any duties—but no concrete action has been taken so far against these individuals. Despite public admissions and calls for accountability, the system continues to drain public funds without serving students.

Infrastructure in Ruins

A visit to the closed schools paints a grim picture: overgrown weeds surround broken roofs and dilapidated classrooms with scattered books and abandoned chairs. Villagers express both frustration and resignation. “The school has been closed for years. Teachers come for a day or two, then disappear. With no teachers and unusable classrooms, what’s the point?” said a local resident.

The Impact

The failure to operate schools is jeopardizing the futures of hundreds of children, forcing them to drop out or travel long distances for basic education. Villagers want their children to learn but feel handcuffed by administrative neglect and mismanagement.

Public Demand for Accountability

This widespread negligence raises serious questions about government efficiency. Why are teachers being paid for no work? Why hasn’t action been taken against absentees? The public, and especially parents, are demanding answers: stop wasting taxpayer money and reallocate teachers to where they are actually needed.

“If the government and administration take strong action, the schools could reopen and children could return. Only then can true progress be made,” said one parent.

Conclusion

What is happening in Narsinghpur is likely just the tip of the iceberg, with countless more cases across the country. Until the system ensures accountability and prioritizes children’s right to education, India’s development will remain hampered by bureaucratic indifference and inefficiency.