Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has made recommendation for reopening of a closed school of Chhatarpur district. A school that was run under the Education Guarantee Scheme in village Gadariyapurwa of Gram Panchayat Harai in Chhatarpur district was closed because it lacked the number of students prescribed as per norms. As per the prescribed norms there should be a minimum of 20 students in a school.
The MPHRC is of the clear view that closing of this school is violation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2011 and in that rule 3 of the section 06 of the act was overlooked. The MPHRC taking cognizance on the complaint of the villagers of Gadariyapurwa not only sought report from the District Collector but also got the issue investigated through its research team.
The team talked with the villagers over the issue and also toured the village to take stock of the situation. It was found that there were 20-21 students of primary school in the village and due to the closure of school they are forced to go to schools of neighboring villages that are at a distance of 4 to 6 kilometers.
The MPHRC found that the closure of school is clear violation of rule 3 of the section 06 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2011 besides violation of the human rights act of the children, hence, it should be immediately opened so that children should not remain illiterate in absence of school in the village.
MPHRC while recommending reopening of the School said that after implementing the rule of school at every kilometer closing a school without making any parallel arrangements is violation of human rights of children that is not appropriate.