As many as 16 schools in Sambalpur district face closure threat. Reason: They have less than 10 students each.
All these schools are in remote areas of the district. But the Education Department is trying to merge these boys and girls in the nearest schools keeping in mind that the students will not have to go more than 1.5 km distance, informed DPC of Sambalpur Kalpana Panda.
The DPC added, “If the distance is more than 1.5 km, then each student will get Rs 600 for transportation charges to travel by other vehicular means.”
It is further known that under the less than 10 students norm, 16 schools of the district under Kuchinda, Jamankira, Jujomura, Rairakhol, Bamra, Naktideul, Maneswar and Dhankauda blocks will be closed if the Government will stick to its decision.
Students apart, the teachers of the schools to be closed will be transferred to the nearby schools.
Due to mushroom growth of the English medium schools in town and semi town areas of the district and all over the State, a few Government schools were closed earlier. But it is now turn for the rural areas, as is seen from the department’s preparation.