India, June 11 -- LUCKNOW Despite the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandating an ideal teacher-pupil ratio of 1:30 for all school levels and 1:25 for disadvantaged regions, aided secondary schools across Lucknow are exposing an 'administrative paradox'. A glaring maldistribution of educators has left schools on the city's outskirts crippled by teacher shortages, while institutions in the heart of the city harbour a surplus of staff for dwindling student populations.

Mahatma Gandhi Inter College in Malihabad presents a grim picture with 1,250 students reliant on just eight teachers - a staggering ratio of one teacher for over 156 students. Similarly, Kashishwar Inter College in Mohanlalganj operates with 18 teachers for over 2,726 ...