Parliament Question: Education in tribal areas in Gujarat

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4208 ANSWERED ON –01/04/2026 Education in tribal areas in Gujarat 4208 Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the number of habitations in Adivasi-dominated blocks of Gujarat where children do not have access to a Government primary or upper primary school within one kilometer and three kilometers respectively, as mandated under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009; and (b) the teacher-pupil ratios in Government schools in Gujarat located in Adivasi areas and the number of sanctioned posts that remain vacant? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a): Education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and majority of the schools come under the purview of the respective State and UT Government. The distance of schools for students is assessed from the Gross Access Ratio - which is total villages/habitations having school within specified distance norm in a year out of total villages/habitations in that year. Gross Access Ratio (GAR) at all levels of school education in the state of Gujarat are given below: Year Primary Upper Primary Secondary Higher Secondary 2024-25 100 100 99.05 97.49 (b): Matters relating to recruitment, service conditions and deployment of teachers fall within the administrative domain of the concerned States/UTs. Further, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, financial assistance is provided to the States and UTs to maintain appropriate Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) for various levels of schooling, as per norms and in undertaking rational and transparent deployment of teachers, including through online systems, to ensure equitable availability of teachers in rural and underserved areas. As informed by the State, the teacher-pupil ratios (PTR) in Government schools in Gujarat located in Adivasi areas are as below: Sr.No. District PTR 1 Aravalli 22 2 Banas Kantha 31 3 Bharuch 27 4 Chhotaudepur 28 5 Dohad 34 6 Mahisagar 24 7 Narmada 27 8 Navsari 22 9 Panch Mahals 27 10 Sabar Kantha 25 11 Surat 24 12 Tapi 22 13 The Dangs 26 14 Valsad 25 *******