Chandigarh : The state government has decided to close down 800 government primary schools having less than 20 students. These schools will be merged with nearby schools located within a radius of 1 km. In a press release, calling it “a novel plan aimed at ensuring conducive academic environment”, the government said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education was being fully adhered to and no student would traverse a distance of more than 1 km from his or her residence to go to school. The spokesperson added that many schools being merged were situated right next to the other schools and at many places both schools share a wall. The exercise will be completed by November 30.
The government said the decision of merging schools was part of series of educational reforms ushered in the state. The spokesperson said the schools which were situated at a distance of more than 1 km would not be merged even if the strength of the students was less than 20.
Among the 800 schools, the maximum are located in Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. Muktsar, Mansa, Bathinda, Barnala and Faridkot will be least affected as less than five schools each will be closed down in these districts.
The government has also decided to start pre-primary classes to boost the standard of government schools as well as strengthen the primary education infrastructure. Special budgetary provisions have been made to strengthen the basic infrastructure of government primary schools and instructions would be imparted in English (optional) from Class I in 400 schools of the state.