Sun Aug 03 13:46:23 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:

**Summary:**

Jawahar High School, a government-aided school near Mettur, Salem, Tamil Nadu, is facing severe challenges due to dwindling student numbers (currently 24) and a single teacher who also serves as headmaster. The school, which once boasted over 500 students and 15 teachers, has suffered due to administrative issues, legal battles, and lack of teacher replacements following retirements. Parents are transferring their children to nearby government schools, leaving only the children of daily wage earners and the poor attending Jawahar High School. The School Education Department is aware of the issue and promises to depute an additional teacher soon.

**News Article:**

**Salem School Struggles: Only 24 Students and One Teacher Remain at Jawahar High School**

**Salem, India – August 3, 2025** – Jawahar High School, a government-aided institution in Karumalaikoodal near Mettur in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu, is grappling with a severe decline in student enrollment and teaching staff. Once a thriving school with over 500 students and 15 teachers, Jawahar High School now serves just 24 students with only one teacher, who also acts as the headmaster.

The school’s decline began after 2011, reportedly due to administrative issues and an ongoing legal battle. While the School Education Department has been overseeing the school for over a decade to protect student welfare, no replacements have been made for retiring teachers, leading to the current crisis. Class sizes are small, with only four students in class VI, five in class VII, seven in class VIII, and eight in class IX. Admission to class X has been suspended this year.

Local resident D. Velan reports that the situation is so dire that when the headmaster is on leave, the school closes, disrupting the students’ education. Consequently, many parents have transferred their children to government schools just three kilometers away. The school now primarily serves the children of daily wage laborers and low-income families who have few other options.

“Admission will increase only if the School Education Department appoints a few more teachers,” Velan stated.

Officials within the School Education Department acknowledge the problem and have assured that an additional teacher will be deputed to the school in the near future. The future of Jawahar High School hinges on these promises being fulfilled and the stability of the school administration being restored. The situation highlights the challenges faced by some rural schools in India and the impact on the communities they serve.

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