But more teachers in primary schools’

schools across Maharashtra have been witnessing fewer number of students enrolling in them but a rise in the number of teachers in the last three years.

Student enrolment in Classes 1 to 8 fell from 1.67 crore to 1.59 crore, but the number of teachers in primary schools increased from 4.05 lakh to 4.08 lakh, according to an education survey conducted by the government.

The data came to light on Wednesday through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by activist Anil Galgali.

Academicians and activists working in the education sector said that the decline in the number of students coupled with the increase in the number of teachers is a positive trend.

“Due to increased awareness, and women concentrating more on their education and career, families are shrinking,” said Farida Lambay, co-founder, of NGO Pratham which works on children’s issues.

Lambay said that recent studies on demography show that the couples across Maharashtra choose to have just one or two children. “We had conducted several community surveys the U-DISE findings match our reports,” said Lambay, adding that the picture would be clearer if U-DISE provides age-wise data.

According to the right to edu cation Act, schools must mee the student teacher ratio of 1: 30 for Classes 1 to 5 and 1: 35 for Classes 6 to 8. In Maharashtra however, the ratio is close to 1:60 “Having more number of teach ers means that Maharashtra is on its way to achieve the pre scribed ratio,” said Anil Bor nare, teacher, Swami Muktan anda School, Chembur and member of the Maharashtra School Teachers Association.