Bhubaneswar: School and Mass Education (S&ME) Minister Samir Ranjan Dash Wednesday made it clear that the state government’s decision to permanently shut a number of schools was based on the reports of the district Collectors’ concerned.
The state government aims at providing quality education to school students in the years ahead, Dash clarified.
The S&ME department has already decided to permanently shut over 14,000 schools across Odisha from the next academic session.
“So far as the decision for completely shutting down 14,000 schools in the State is concerned, we have already identified them basing on below 20 students strength across Odisha while in coastal areas it is below 40. But, our government’s intention is not to close down the schools, rather to impart quality education,” Dash said.
“It is unfair to teach 18 to 20 students in a classroom and impart education from Class I to V. Schools mushroomed everywhere following the enactment of RTE (Right to Education) Act. It is now being observed that the students are being deprived of requisite number of classrooms and teachers as well,” Dash argued.
Notably, in places where students would have to cross highways, rivers, streams, hills and forests to reach schools with fewer than 20 students will be allowed to continue on the basis of District Collectors’ report.
Meanwhile, Odisha Parents Federation, Wednesday, said that they would organise an all-party meeting November 20 in which the parties will be asked to raise voice against the decision of shutting down government-run schools. “Shutting down government schools will put education system of the state in grave danger,” said Prasanna Bisoi chairman of federation, adding that at this juncture the political parties must raise voice against the decision.
Instead of shutting down illegal private schools, they are shutting down government schools, violating the RTE norms.
