School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra on Thursday informed the Assembly that the State has a total of 813 Government-run primary and upper primary schools having 10 or less students.
Replying to a question put by Bibhuti Bhushan Harichandan, the Minister said steps are being taken to enroll and teach these students in nearby schools. When required number of students would be available as per the RTE norms, these schools would be reopened, he said.
According to the information furnished by him, Rayagada district has the highest number of 78 schools having 10 or less than 10 students. Similarly, Khandhamal has 75 schools, Sundargarh and Gajapati 68 each, Ganjam 62, Cuttack 41, Sambalpur 38, Baragarh 36, Jagatsinghpur 34, Sonepur and Koraput 29 each, Nayagarh 28,
Puri 27, Jharsuguda 22, Mayurbhanj 21, Angul 19, Dhenkanal 17, Kalahandi 16, Khordha 14, Balangir and Boudh 13 each, Nuapada 9, Malkangiri and Baleswar 8 each, Kendrapada 7 and Nabarangpur and Badrak districts have 5 each.
Regarding yearly enrolment in primary schools, the Minister informed that while a total of 43,41,046 students had taken admission in 2012-13, the number dwindled to 42,77,710 in 2013-14 and to 42,23,628 in 2014-15. The number of students admitted in upper primary schools in 2012-13 was 20,81,369 and it decreased to 21,10,347 in 2013-14 and to 21,10,347 in 2014-15.
The Minister said a committee has been formed to examine reasons behind gradual decrease in number of student taking admission in these schools and accordingly, steps are being taken.