Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has raised serious concerns over the sharp decline in student enrolment in Government schools in Uttar Pradesh and criticised the state government’s ongoing crackdown on private madrasas. She termed the developments as a blow to the goal of accessible education for the underprivileged and called for an immediate shift in policy.
In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati pointed out that enrolment in primary and upper primary Government schools in UP dropped from 1.74 crore in 2023–24 to 1.52 crore in 2024–25 — a decline of approximately 22 lakh students. “Such a poor condition of the government school system is serious and worrisome. The Government must pay proper attention to the importance and need of education,” she said.
Mayawati also criticised the government’s stance on private madrasas, which often provide low-cost education in underserved areas.
“Instead of supporting the private madrasa system, which is part of an affordable and accessible education model, the Government is shutting them down by declaring them illegal. This is an unfair and unnecessary step that will only weaken the foundation of basic education,” she stated, urging the Government to reconsider its attitude toward madrasas.
She added that while the condition of government schools is alarming across several states, the situation in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is particularly dire. “This has a direct impact on the long-awaited progress of poor Bahujan families and pushes the future of their children into darkness. In such a scenario, the focus should be on strengthening school education, not shutting institutions down.” Mayawati’s remarks have reignited the debate over the state’s education policy, especially its treatment of traditional and community-based schooling systems.