Rajasthan's government schools have recorded an increase in student enrollment for the first time in five years, with 48,358 additional students enrolled. The School Education Department has also introduced the 'Star Teacher' initiative to recognize outstanding teachers for academic performance and innovative teaching methods.
Rajasthan's School Education Department has reported a significant increase in enrollment in government schools following the implementation of the Rajasthan Shiksha Setu Campaign and other educational initiatives.
Under the direction of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the supervision of Additional Chief Secretary for School Education Rajesh Yadav, the department has introduced measures aimed at improving educational quality, encouraging innovative teaching practices, and ensuring that children have access to formal education.
According to the department, these initiatives have contributed to an increase in government school enrollment after five years, alongside efforts to recognize teachers for their contributions to student learning.
Rajasthan Government Schools Record Enrollment Growth After Five Years
Government schools across Rajasthan have registered an increase in student enrollment for the first time in five years.
As of July 2026, total enrollment reached 72,98,854 students, compared to 72,50,496 during the 2025–26 academic session, representing an increase of 48,358 students.
The department has also highlighted the growing participation of girls in government schools.
Girls Outnumber Boys in Government School Enrollment
According to the enrollment figures released by the department:
Total enrollment: 72,98,854 students
Girls enrolled: 38,92,355 (53.3%)
Boys enrolled: 34,06,486 (46.7%)
Increase in enrollment: 48,358 students
Gender ratio: 1,143 girls for every 1,000 boys
The number of girls enrolled in government schools exceeds that of boys by approximately 4.86 lakh.
The School Education Department considers this trend an encouraging indication of increasing participation in girls' education across Rajasthan.
Districts Reporting the Highest Enrollment Growth
Several districts have recorded notable increases in government school enrollment.
| District | Increase in Enrollment |
|---|---|
| Banswara | 11,939 |
| Udaipur | 9,448 |
| Barmer | 5,937 |
| Jalore | 5,485 |
| Sirohi | 4,295 |
Meanwhile, districts experiencing a decline in enrollment are being reviewed to identify challenges and introduce measures to prevent students from dropping out of school.
Rajasthan Shiksha Setu Campaign Aims to Bring Every Child into School
The Rajasthan Shiksha Setu Campaign has been launched in two phases to identify children who are not attending school and help them enter the formal education system.
Under the campaign, school principals are assigning teachers the responsibility of identifying and enrolling individual out-of-school children. Teachers are expected to contact families, encourage school participation, and facilitate enrollment.
The initiative is being monitored through the Shala Darpan portal and its dedicated dashboard to track progress and improve accountability.
Special Focus on Children from Vulnerable Communities
The campaign prioritizes children who may face additional barriers to education, including girls, children with special needs, migrant children, child labourers, and children from tribal and nomadic communities.
To ensure effective implementation, the department has established a monitoring system at multiple administrative levels.
Chief Block Education Officers (CBEOs) conduct reviews every 15 days, while Chief District Education Officers (CDEOs) monitor progress at the district level. District Collectors also review campaign performance every month.
These measures are intended to improve enrollment, reduce dropout rates, and expand educational opportunities across Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Introduces 'Star Teacher' Initiative to Recognize Outstanding Educators
Alongside its enrollment campaign, the Rajasthan School Education Department launched the Star Teacher initiative in October 2026 to recognize teachers who demonstrate outstanding academic results and adopt innovative classroom teaching methods.
The first list, released on October 26, recognized 15 teachers from eight government schools across Rajasthan.
The selected teachers were recognized under two categories.
1. Academic Excellence Based on CBA Results
A total of 11 teachers were selected based on the March 2026 Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) results.
The selection focused on teachers from top-performing schools across different divisions of Rajasthan who had contributed significantly to improving students' academic performance.
2. Innovative Teaching Methods
Four teachers were selected for adopting creative and effective classroom teaching practices.
Their selection was based on short videos demonstrating innovative approaches, including simplifying difficult concepts, using educational games, and creatively incorporating Teaching-Learning Materials (TLM).
The submitted videos were evaluated against four predefined criteria, with a maximum score of 20 marks.
The evaluation process was designed to recognize teaching methods that make classroom learning more engaging and accessible.
Star Teachers to Be Selected Every Month
All 15 teachers selected in the first round have received digital certificates through the Teacher App.
The list of recognized teachers has also been published on the Shala Darpan portal.
The School Education Department plans to conduct the Star Teacher selection process every month, creating regular opportunities to recognize educators for academic achievements and innovative teaching practices.
The initiative aims to motivate teachers, encourage the adoption of effective teaching methods, and promote continuous improvements in classroom learning.
Rajasthan Focuses on Inclusive and Quality Education
The Rajasthan government is pursuing two complementary approaches to strengthening its public education system: increasing student enrollment through the Shiksha Setu Campaign and recognizing teaching excellence through the Star Teacher initiative.
While the enrollment campaign focuses on bringing children into schools, the teacher recognition program aims to improve the quality of education delivered in classrooms.
With government school enrollment reaching nearly 73 lakh students and girls accounting for more than half of the total, the department is seeking to build on these developments through regular monitoring, targeted interventions, and teacher encouragement.
The initiatives form part of the state government's broader efforts to make government education more accessible, inclusive, and focused on measurable learning outcomes.
