The Centre has decided to convert single-teacher schools into at least three-teacher schools, Union home minister P Chidambaram said here. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of new buildings at the Tamil Nadu College of Education at Karaikudi near here.

He urged state governments to take steps to put an end to the single-teacher schools.

Though there were a large number of qualified teachers in the country without a job, nearly half of the about 8lakh schools were being run on the single teacher concept, he said.

"It meant that one teacher has to take classes for all children studying in different classes. How can a teacher effectively take classes for all children?", he questioned, adding that the situation had to change.