As many as ten Government primary schools of Sundargarh district are set to be closed due to low enrolment. The students and teachers of the schools will be merged with the nearest schools.
Sources said based on a report of September 2013 from the District Information System of Education (DISE), wherein it had been mentioned there are five students or less in several primary schools of Sundargarh district, the Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) had asked the Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan (SSA) Project Coordinator to produce a feasibility report by September 10 and provide the list of schools in which there is low strength.
According to the DISE report, the schools are Tunguripada Project Primary School in Balishankara block, Jharpadi Project Primary School, Dhamakpur Project Upper Primary School, Kangabuha Project Primary School under Hemgiri block, Khatu Project Primary School, lebagajor Project Primary School, Dublabeda Primary School undr Kuannmuda block, Tengra Project Primary School in lepripada block, Dhipapada Project Primary School in Rajgangpur block and Dhabakhol Project Primary School in Tangarpali block.
Now the Project Coordinator SSA is preparing a report on the schools to be sent to the OPEPA for a final call.
“I have received a letter from the OPEPA to provide a feasibility report. We have identified about 10 schools in Sundargarh district where there is low enrolment of students. We are deciding to close them,” said SSA Project Coordinator Amulya Pradhan. Due to very low enrolment of students in these school, they will be shut down, said district Collector BS Punia.