Poor enrolment led to closure or merger of 5,632 schools in 5 years: Min | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: As many as 5,632 schools in the state were closed or merged with nearby schools due to poor enrolment in the last five years, school and mass education minister Nityananda Gond informed the assembly on Friday.
Except for Puri district, schools in other 29 districts were closed and merged with nearby schools. Mohana block in tribal-dominated Gajapati district witnessed the closure of 302 schools, the highest among all blocks.
Many tribal blocks with hamlets and villages in hilly areas saw the closure of schools. Apart from Mohana, Paralakhemundi block in Gajapati district witnessed the closure of 124 schools. Another tribal block, Laxmipur in Koraput district, saw the closure of 129 schools.
According to official data, 457 schools were closed and merged in Mayurbhanj, another tribal-dominated district. As many as 100 schools were closed in Phulbani block in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district. Similarly, 96 schools were closed in Pottangi block of Koraput district, 74 in Nuapada block (Nuapada district), and 82 in Kuchinda block in Sambalpur district.
Anil Pradhan, convener of the Odisha Right to Education Forum, said the closure of schools will affect students. “Dropouts will increase due to the closure of schools in tribal areas. If a school is closed in a village in a hilly area, students will face difficulties travelling to the next school. Residential schools are not sufficient enought to cater to the needs of all the children in these areas,” he added.
Pradhan said the govt has been telling people that it will take all facilities to people’s doorsteps, but it is moving schools away from children of more than 5,600 villages or hamlets. “Closure of schools will have a bad impact on children as they may not continue their education, a fundamental right,” he added.
Basudev Chhatoi, an educationist, said an impact study should have been conducted before deciding to close or merge the schools. “We cannot take a decision by sidelining the future of the young generation. We need to think about reopening the schools,” he added.
Many organisations and activists have demanded the reopening of closed schools, but no school was reopened since June 2024.
“If there are specific grievances to reopen the closed/merged schools, then as per the provisions of the school and mass education department, the request will be examined by the district grievance redressal committees and the report will be forwarded to the State Grievance Redressal Committee for consideration,” the minister said in his reply.
“On the recommendation of the State Grievance Redressal Committee, steps will be taken for reopening of the closed school,” said Gond.
Except for Puri district, schools in other 29 districts were closed and merged with nearby schools. Mohana block in tribal-dominated Gajapati district witnessed the closure of 302 schools, the highest among all blocks.
Many tribal blocks with hamlets and villages in hilly areas saw the closure of schools. Apart from Mohana, Paralakhemundi block in Gajapati district witnessed the closure of 124 schools. Another tribal block, Laxmipur in Koraput district, saw the closure of 129 schools.
According to official data, 457 schools were closed and merged in Mayurbhanj, another tribal-dominated district. As many as 100 schools were closed in Phulbani block in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district. Similarly, 96 schools were closed in Pottangi block of Koraput district, 74 in Nuapada block (Nuapada district), and 82 in Kuchinda block in Sambalpur district.
Anil Pradhan, convener of the Odisha Right to Education Forum, said the closure of schools will affect students. “Dropouts will increase due to the closure of schools in tribal areas. If a school is closed in a village in a hilly area, students will face difficulties travelling to the next school. Residential schools are not sufficient enought to cater to the needs of all the children in these areas,” he added.
Pradhan said the govt has been telling people that it will take all facilities to people’s doorsteps, but it is moving schools away from children of more than 5,600 villages or hamlets. “Closure of schools will have a bad impact on children as they may not continue their education, a fundamental right,” he added.
Basudev Chhatoi, an educationist, said an impact study should have been conducted before deciding to close or merge the schools. “We cannot take a decision by sidelining the future of the young generation. We need to think about reopening the schools,” he added.
Many organisations and activists have demanded the reopening of closed schools, but no school was reopened since June 2024.
“If there are specific grievances to reopen the closed/merged schools, then as per the provisions of the school and mass education department, the request will be examined by the district grievance redressal committees and the report will be forwarded to the State Grievance Redressal Committee for consideration,” the minister said in his reply.
“On the recommendation of the State Grievance Redressal Committee, steps will be taken for reopening of the closed school,” said Gond.
