Various teachers’ bodies have strongly opposed the State Government’s reported decision to close down 14,379 primary schools on the pleas of poor attendance of students and lack of teachers and infrastructures.
“Recently, the Government had closed and merged 1,603 primary schools with nearby high schools. Now, the Government has decided to close down 14,309 primary, upper primary and ME schools on the pleas of low attendance of students and lack of teachers and infrastructure. In coming days, the Government will also shut 2,100 block grant and 610 full grant-in-aid schools. The Government has hatched a conspiracy to hand over the education sector to businessmen,” alleged Democratic Teachers’ Association president Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak. He called upon all teacher associations to take to the streets against the Government move.
The Odisha Primary Teachers’ Association has also opposed the move saying the Government is trying to deprive children of getting the right to education. “The Government’s pleas for closure of schools are unjustified. Some schools in SC, ST and OBC habitations may not witness attendance of 20 students in view of low intensity population. If total population is taken into consideration, the Government need to open more schools,” pointed out association president Brahmananda Panda.
He said the association would resort to a strike if the decision to close down schools is not withdrawn soon.