Uttar Pradesh to close 27,000 government schools due to low enrollment – India TV

In a significant step, the Uttar Pradesh education department is preparing to close around 27,000 primary schools in the state. The decision is part of an initiative to streamline education resources, particularly aimed at schools with fewer than 50 students.

Director General of Education Kanchan Verma recently held a review meeting on October 23 where she directed all Block School Administrators (BSAs) to review and prepare for the merger of these underperforming institutions. The primary goal is to consolidate resources by integrating schools with low student numbers into nearby schools with higher student numbers.

Currently, there are a total of 27,764 primary schools in Uttar Pradesh with fewer than 50 students enrolled. As part of the consolidation plan, students from these schools will be housed in nearby facilities to ensure their continued education. BSAs have been directed to submit their reports on the merger of these schools by November 14.

The review meeting emphasized the Indian government’s commitment to making schools more practical and efficient. Education officials have been tasked with developing a framework to determine which schools can merge based on several factors, including transportation, student accessibility and geographic considerations such as canals and highways.

In addition, each school must provide a one-page comment describing its status, and a comprehensive booklet listing all affected schools will be compiled for district review. A follow-up meeting with all BSAs is planned for November 14 to discuss the progress of this initiative.