Delhi govt plans to convert its double-shift schools into single-shift ones, ETEducation
New Delhi: The Delhi govt is mulling a phased conversion of all its double-shift schools into single-shift ones in the coming years. Detailed planning is already underway, sources said. The proposal is expected to be up for discussion in the upcoming session of Delhi Vidhan Sabha.
According to official records, the directorate of education currently has 799 school buildings across the capital. Of these, 284 operate in double shifts, with one school running in the morning and another in the evening in each of them.
Education experts point out that such a transition will require significant expansion of infrastructure as students presently accommodated in evening shifts will need space in the morning schools.
To address this issue, the directorate is planning to construct 10 new schools every year, adding around 50 schools by the end of 2029, according to the sources. To this effect, it has identified 70 vacant plots allotted by various land-owning agencies. Proposals for constructing new school buildings, sports facilities, libraries and other infrastructure have been sought from district deputy directors of education.
There is substantial unused land within existing school campuses that can be utilised for new buildings, additional classrooms, sports facilities, multi-purpose halls, libraries and laboratories, the sources said, adding that in areas where space constraints prevent expansion, new land parcels will be identified and schools built.
The experts note that the move could also help address overcrowding in classrooms. Currently, the student-classroom ratio in several parts of Delhi remains high and needs to be reduced in line with norms prescribed under Right to Education (RTE) Act through the construction of additional classrooms and schools.
Beyond infrastructure, the transition to a single-shift system is expected to have academic and social benefits. Currently, over a third of Delhi govt schools run evening shifts and cater exclusively to boys. Historical data suggests that students in these schools tend to perform poorly than those in morning or co-educational schools. In 2024, the pass percentage for evening-shift schools stood at 95.33%, compared to 96.96% for morning-shift schools. In comparison, ‘general’ shift schools, which follow a single regular school schedule, had the highest pass percentage of 98.19%.
In 2024, the pass percentage for Class XII in boys-only schools was 95.96%, compared with 98.07% in co-educational schools and 97.35% in girls’ schools.
A similar trend is reflected in the qualitative index, an average of marks scored by students. Boys-only schools recorded 299.67, significantly lower than co-educational schools at 321.28 and girls’ schools (316.23), indicating comparatively weaker academic outcomes.
The experts also believe that the single-shift system will improve learning outcomes and strengthen parents’ confidence in govt schools.
“Operating two shifts limits instructional time for students and puts additional pressure on teachers. Under a single-shift system, children will get more time for studies, and academic activities can be conducted more effectively,” an official said.
Single-shift schools will be equipped with smart classrooms, modern teaching technologies, trained teachers and improved infrastructure. “The govt’s objective is not merely to increase the number of schools, but to raise the quality of education to international standards,” the official said.
The earlier AAP govt explored a similar plan. In 2021, in view of rising enrolment in Delhi govt schools and the completion of additional school infrastructure, the directorate asked all district education officers to examine the feasibility of converting double-shift schools into single-shift institutes.
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