Gurgaon's Government Primary Schools Grapple with Multi-Grade Classroom Challenges
In a concerning development for education in the region, classrooms across several government primary schools in Gurgaon are transforming into multi-grade environments. This means a single room frequently accommodates students from two or even three distinct classes simultaneously, driven by severe shortages of teachers and limited space.
Resource Constraints Force Unconventional Teaching Methods
Due to these constraints, children from Grade 1 and Grade 2—and in some instances, Grades 1, 2, and 3—are being taught together by one instructor who must manage different lessons at the same time. The situation grows even more intricate in certain schools where two teachers share a classroom, each handling a separate subject. For example, one might teach mathematics while the other conducts English lessons, with students from various grades seated side by side.
While this arrangement serves as a temporary fix for limited resources, educators report it can detrimentally impact foundational learning. Young students often struggle without dedicated attention tailored to their specific grade level, leading to potential gaps in their educational development.
Real-Life Struggles in Farrukhnagar Schools
At Govt Primary School, Jai Hind Ki Dhani in Farrukhnagar, only two sanctioned teaching posts cater to students ranging from Bal Vatika to Class 5. This forces teachers to merge multiple grades into one classroom. Rajesh Kumar, a teacher with nearly a decade of service at the school, describes the daily ordeal: "We have six hours and three classes to manage at once. While I assign work to the first graders, I have to attend to the second and third graders. Covering the syllabus effectively under these conditions is nearly impossible."
The challenge is both numerical and academic, as instructors simultaneously handle basic alphabet learning for younger pupils while teaching more advanced concepts like ascending and descending order to older ones.
Beyond Academics: Growing Burdens on Students and Teachers
The difficulties extend beyond the classroom. Most children hail from migrant families where parents work as daily wage laborers, unable to support studies at home. Teachers, meanwhile, juggle administrative tasks such as maintaining online records for multiple subjects and classes, often amid poor internet connectivity in rural areas.
Compounding this, both teachers at the school have been assigned census duties starting May 2026. Although scheduled after school hours, these assignments effectively extend their workload, adding to the strain.
Innovative Yet Straining Teaching Strategies
In another primary school in Farrukhnagar, teacher Ashok Kumar was observed managing two classes simultaneously using separate boards in the same room. He assigns tasks to Bal Vatika students before shifting focus to Grade 1, constantly moving between groups to maintain engagement. In an adjacent classroom, he teaches Grade 3 and Grade 4 together, highlighting the pressure on limited staff.
Schools in the area largely operate under a "combined classroom" model:
- Grade 1 is paired with Bal Vatika
- Grades 2 and 3 are taught together
- Grades 4 and 5 share the same learning space
To cope, teachers often employ a "split-board" strategy—writing different lessons for different classes on the same board while alternating attention between groups. One teacher explained: "I write the Grade 1 work on the board for them to copy, then move to the Bal Vatika children with activity-based tasks." Another added: "You have to explain a concept to one group while keeping the other occupied. Younger children need constant attention and activity-based learning, which becomes difficult in such conditions."
Policy Gaps and Student Confusion
While the Right to Education (RTE) Act advocates for a "one class, one teacher" approach, actual teacher allocation is based on overall student strength rather than individual class needs. Current norms stipulate that schools with up to 60 students receive only two teachers, with additional staff sanctioned incrementally. This meets prescribed teacher-student ratios on paper but often results in instructors handling multiple grades simultaneously.
A similar scenario unfolds at a primary school in Kadipur, where two teachers conducted different classes in the same room—one teaching English and the other Hindi. Students from separate grades sat together, frequently struggling to follow lessons. A student shared: "Sometimes we don't understand which lesson to follow because both teachers are speaking at the same time." Another noted: "When the teacher is busy with the other class, we just wait or copy from the board."
Official Response and Balancing Acts
A senior education department official acknowledged that several teachers from government schools have been assigned census duties. However, she emphasized these are being carried out in designated slots to minimize disruption to school functioning. The official stated: "Teachers currently on census duty are being replaced by other teachers, and others will be assigned duties in subsequent phases. Schools are not vacant, and academic activities are continuing. The census is an essential exercise, and efforts are being made to balance both responsibilities."
This multi-grade classroom crisis in Gurgaon underscores broader systemic issues in resource allocation and educational support, calling for urgent attention to ensure quality learning for all students.
