LUCKNOW, July 21 -- Uttar Pradesh has shown an improvement in the basic infrastructure at government-run schools on various parameters from 2023-24 to now, according to official data. For instance, the number of institutions lacking electricity connection has come down from 33,000 in 2023-24 to 10,362 in 2024-25 and 8,726 now, according to the data made available by the state government to the Union education ministry's Project Approval Board (PAB) at a meeting held recently. There are 262,358 schools in Uttar Pradesh. The current percentage of schools lacking electricity connections is about 3.33% of the total. While quoting the figures, the state government referred to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), an educational management information system under the Central government's department of school education and literacy. Twenty-three schools lack girls' toilets currently compared to 658 schools in 2024-25 and 6000 in 2023-24, the same set of data showed. The number of schools without drinking water facilities has come down to 205 from 332 in 2024-25 and 2000 in 2023-24, according to the same date. The number of schools lacking toilets for boys has come down to 1425 now from 2991 in 2024-25 and 7000 in 2023-24. The Centre has asked the state to ensure saturation of these basic facilities in the financial year 2026-27. When contacted, additional chief secretary (basic and secondary education) Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma said, "Please see the total number of schools and see this number as percentages." "Nevertheless, efforts would be made to saturate all schools under Mission Kayakalp, the ongoing initiative to rejuvenate schools and improve their infrastructure," the additional chief secretary added. The number of government primary schools with zero enrolment has marginally decreased from 44 in 2023-24 to 42 in 2024-25. In all, 9,859 primary schools, constituting about 11% of the state's government primary schools, have enrolment below 30. The number of single-teacher government primary schools in Uttar Pradesh decreased from 2,586 in 2023-24 to 2,329 in 2024-25. However, the number of single-teacher government upper primary schools has increased from 3,109 in 2023-24 to 3,288 in 2024-25. A total of 2,329 government primary schools with single teachers constitute about 3% of the state's government primary schools, while 3,288 government upper primary schools with single teachers constitute about 7% of the government upper primary schools in the state. The state was asked to undertake a detailed review of the situation, implement appropriate corrective measures, and ensure compliance with RTE (Right to Education) norms at all levels....