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The Print
5 days ago
- General
- The Print
A long walk ahead for rural children as UP govt begins pairing schools
This morning schedule is now set to change, courtesy to Uttar Pradesh government's recent decision to pair schools. Amit's school, like many others, are set to be merged with another school in a neighbouring village two kilometres away. Lucknow, Jul 13 (PTI) For eight-year-old Amit, a Class 2 student at a government primary school in Kakori block on the outskirts of Lucknow, mornings meant a short sprint to school. It was just 200 metres away from home. 'Now my father will have to take me to school on his bicycle. The problem is that he is not always free,' he says. A sweeping initiative was undertaken by the state government to 'pair' schools with low enrolment, aimed at pooling resources, improving infrastructure, and aligning with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020. The policy, recently upheld by the Allahabad High Court, has set in motion the pairing of over 10,000 of the 1.3 lakh government-run primary schools across the state, officials estimate. The essence of the pairing exercise lies in merging schools with fewer than 50 students into nearby institutions to create a more robust learning environment. 'The core idea is to consolidate teaching staff, infrastructure and other educational resources,' Deepak Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Basic Education, told PTI. 'This includes better use of school buildings, smart class technology and materials. It is about creating a richer, more effective academic space for children.' States like Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat have already undertaken similar reforms, and Uttar Pradesh officials say they are following proven models. Kumar calls the exercise 'a transformative structural reform' aimed at revitalising a scattered rural education network. 'Smaller schools often meant isolation for students and teachers alike. With pairing, we aim to bring in peer learning, better governance, and a renewed focus on quality education,' he added. The move comes amidst a drop in enrolment numbers in government primary and upper primary schools across the state since the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022-23, enrolments in schools under the Basic Shiksha Parishad reached an all-time high of 1.92 crore. However, this figure dropped to 1.68 crore in 2023-24 and fell further to 1.48 crore in 2024-25. In the ongoing 2025-26 session, the enrolment figure hovers around just 1 crore. According to education department officials, in schools where the level of enrolment and attendance are less, there are high chances that students might drop out in the middle of an academic session or when the session ends. With the pairing exercise, the number of students in a classroom will increase. This, coupled with added resources, will not only reduce the number of dropouts but also assist in improving school enrolments, officials claim. In a recent judgment, the Allahabad High Court dismissed multiple writ petitions that challenged the government orders dated June 16 and 24, 2025. The petitioners had claimed that the pairing would make children walk more than a kilometre to school, in alleged violation of the Article 21A of the Constitution and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009. However, the court noted that the RTE Act allows flexibility in implementing 'neighbourhood schools' and found no evidence of state failure. It ruled that the students' constitutional and legal rights remained intact. Despite the policy's judicial approval, the response on the ground is far from unanimous. 'My children's school used to be a five-minute walk. With this merger, they may now have to cross fields and take two buses,' said Ritu Devi, a mother of two and a daily wager in rural Sitapur. 'Who will ensure their safety? Who will drop them to school and bring them back every day?' Suresh Singh, a farmer, worry about what lies ahead. 'Merged schools are overcrowded. Teachers are already stretched. I don't think our children will get the kind of attention they used to get in the village school.' However, some express hope. 'With the pairing of schools, our children will get more teachers and facilities. This will surely improve the quality of education,' said Devatram Verma, a father of two children whose primary school has not been paired. Teachers too are wary. In rural areas, enrolment often depends on the teachers' personal outreach. 'In villages, we go door to door, asking families to send their children to school instead of taking them to the fields,' said a female teacher from a government school in Rae Bareli, requesting anonymity. 'But once the schools are far away, that connection is lost. I fear several children will simply drop out.' A teacher in Sitapur echoed the concern. 'Villagers are asking how their kids will travel 3 kilometres or more. They have no means. Many say they will pull their kids out or shift them to private schools.' Dissent is brewing within the teaching community as well. Dinesh Chandra Sharma, an office-bearer of the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers' Association, called the move 'a disguised closure of government schools.' 'On one hand, the government is giving permissions to new private schools. On the other, it is shutting down small public schools that serve the rural, underprivileged populations. This will damage the futures of both the students and teachers,' Sharma told PTI. The association fears that the policy will lead to large-scale teacher transfers or even job cuts. 'We suspect the government will reduce staff in the name of efficiency and stop new hiring altogether,' Sharma added. The initiative has also drawn sharp criticism from major opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Indian National Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has labelled the policy a 'deep-rooted conspiracy' to deprive future generations, particularly from backward, Dalit and minority communities (PDA), of their right to education. He alleged that the BJP government is deliberately weakening public education to foster an 'uneducated, superstitious and unscientific' populace. A provocative poster outside the Samajwadi Party headquarters echoed this sentiment: 'What kind of Ram Rajya is this? Close the schools. Open the liquor shops.' Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has branded the move 'unjust, unnecessary and anti-poor' stating it undermines accessible government education to millions. She warned of increased dropout rates, especially for girls, due to longer travel distances, and vowed to reverse the policy if the BSP returns to power. State Congress chief Ajay Rai has written to the Governor demanding an immediate halt, asserting that the mergers are a disguised attempt to close schools, harming rural and economically weaker students. The Congress also suspects a broader plan to privatise the education sector. Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and state in-charge Sanjay Singh has launched a 'Save School' campaign, accusing the government of planning to close numerous schools (reportedly around 27,000) while opening liquor stores. 'We need schools, not liquor stores,' he said, affirming the AAP's intent to challenge the mergers in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, officials remain optimistic, stressing that once the initial discomfort subsides, students will benefit from better facilities, larger peer groups, and more dynamic learning. But for families like Amit's, the policy is less about reform and more about everyday reality. 'It is not possible for me to take my son to school everyday as I have to go looking for work or go to the fields. I don't know for how long I will be able to take him to school,' said Amit's father. PTI CDN RUK RUK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AAP to protest merger of primary schools in U.P.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced a statewide protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's proposal to merge primary schools run by the Basic Shiksha Parishad. AAP leader Sanjay Singh addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday. (HT Photo) The party will organise demonstrations in villages and at district headquarters wherever school mergers are planned. 'AAP will not allow the government to shut down schools and will fight to protect the education of children,' Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP and state in-charge of the party, told media persons on Thursday. Singh criticised the government's priorities, highlighting the contrast between the proposed school mergers and the continued opening of liquor shops. The AAP leader pointed out that the merger of schools will affect the appointments of approximately 1.35 lakh assistant teachers, 27,000 headmasters, and thousands of education workers. He further stated that the government's decision to merge schools violates the Right to Education Act, which mandates free and compulsory education for children in the age group of 6-14 years. Singh also criticised the government's handling of the mid-day meal scheme, stating that instead of improving the quality of meals, the government is focused on opening liquor shops. He urged people to join hands with AAP to fight for the future of education in the state. Statewide outreach The Aam Aadmi Party will launch a statewide outreach campaign, 'Har Ghar Sampark Abhiyan', across the state from July 11. The drive aims to expand the party's grassroots presence across all 403 assembly constituencies in the state. Workers will visit every village, household, and ward to spread the AAP's message, focusing on party chief and former chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal's 'Kaam ki Rajneeti' (politics of work) and Sanjay Singh's 'Sewa aur Sangharsh ki Rajneeti' (politics of service and struggle). The party will build its organisation in rural areas, strengthening its presence in 75 districts, 826 blocks, and approximately 57,000 gram panchayats.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Amid accent on School Chalo Abhiyan, enrolment figures see a big dip in Uttar Pradesh
Even as the government has laid fresh emphasis on the School Chalo Abhiyan to be conducted from July onwards, government schools in Uttar Pradesh have registered a big dip in enrolment numbers in a span of four academic sessions from 2022-23 to the ongoing 2025-26. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic decline of nearly 90 lakh (9 million) students in government-run primary and upper primary schools (Classes 1 to 8) across Uttar Pradesh. In 2022–23, enrolment in schools under the Basic Shiksha Parishad reached an all-time high of 1.92 crore (19.2 million). However, this figure dropped to 1.68 crore (16.8 million) in 2023-24, a reduction of 24 lakh students. In 2024-25, enrolment fell further to 1.48 crore (14.8 million), marking a loss of another 20 lakh (2 million) students. In all , -government schools witnessed a total drop of 44 lakh (4.4 million) students in three consecutive academic years — 2022-23 to 2024-25. In the ongoing 2025–26 session, the enrolment figure hovers around just 1 crore, bringing the total decline in student numbers to nearly 90 lakh since 2022-23. UP Basic Education Department officials have stated that admissions will resume when schools reopen after the summer vacation in July, and they expect enrolment numbers to increase by a few lakhs. However, the overall trend indicates a significant and ongoing challenge in retaining students in the state's government education system. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday appealed to all government schoolteachers to bring children to schools. 'If there are any children of 5 to 14 years age, make sure to take them to school. It is your moral responsibility; you will be doing a favour to the society. Prepare yourself for this task, launch the School Chalo Abhiyan in July first week. Teachers must tap every house around their school and find out why children are not going to school,' he told teachers. There are about 1.36 lakh Basic Shiksha Parishad schools in the state. Officials attribute the sharp decline in student enrolment in Uttar Pradesh's government-run primary and upper primary schools to a combination of post-pandemic migration trends and systemic challenges. Even as the student enrolment is 1 crore this year, officials say the admission for the session is still ongoing and once schools reopen in July after the summer break, the numbers are expected to rise. An education department official explained that enrolment peaked at 1.92 crore in the 2022–23 academic year, largely due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. As lockdowns brought economic activity to a halt, many migrant workers—especially labourers and low-income employees who lost jobs or faced severe pay cuts—returned to their native villages. During this period, a significant number of these families enrolled their children in local government schools, leading to a temporary surge in enrolment. 'In many cases, children of migrant workers were enrolled in multiple government schools, further boosting the numbers for 2022–23,' the official added. However, as the pandemic subsided and economic activities resumed, these migrants gradually returned to their workplaces, often taking their families with them. This reverse migration contributed to a sharp drop in student enrolment: down by 24 lakh in 2023–24 and a further 20 lakh in 2024-25, according to officials familiar with the data. One official also noted that with Aadhaar-based authentication now being used to verify student enrolment, more accurate figures are emerging—eliminating past cases of inflated or duplicate records. Another factor contributing to the decline is the growing preference among parents for nearby private English-medium schools. While the state government had previously promoted English-medium government schools, the initiative appears to have lost momentum. 'Many teachers are reluctant or unequipped to actively engage students in English, especially in everyday conversation,' a source noted, reflecting parental concerns. Commenting on the situation, additional chief secretary, Basic and Secondary Education, Deepak Kumar, said, 'Enrolment is still ongoing. Once schools reopen in July after the summer break, numbers are expected to rise. The spike in 2022–23 was mainly due to the return of migrant families during the COVID period. Now, with Aadhaar authentication, we are getting the real picture.' Director general of School Education, Kanchan Verma, noted that the decline in student enrolment is not unique to Uttar Pradesh but reflects a nationwide trend. 'This is a pan-India phenomenon,' she said. Citing the government's UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) report released in December 2024, Verma highlighted that government schools across the country saw a drop of 87 lakh students in the 2023–24 academic year compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, officials pointed out a simultaneous increase of 60 lakh students in private schools during the same period, suggesting a significant shift in parental preference toward private education. On why children were increasingly leaving government schools, Urvashi Sahni of Study Hall, a member of the steering committee for implementing National Education Policy 2020 in UP, said, 'The question the government needs to ask themselves is this -- Why are people increasingly losing faith in our schools? Surely, this tells us that government needs to improve the quality of teaching by supporting their teachers adequately, training them in the new pedagogies and then most importantly -- holding them accountable.' Amrita Dass of Institute of Career Studies said, 'With the future career success as a goal, parents seek quality education for their children in reputed schools, often preferring English-medium institutions. While affordability is a consideration, the growing presence of private schools in their vicinity offers them a wider range of choices that cater to their needs.' Explaining the cause behind decline in enrolment in UP government-run schools, Samina Bano, founder and CEO of Rightwalk Foundation, said, 'Our own household-survey across four districts shows just how hard Covid hit the poorest families: average monthly income dropped by 50%, forcing many to migrate or keep children at home. Those same families enrolled in the nearest government school in 2022-23, pushing numbers to a record high; when work resumed, enrolment naturally fell back.' Another expert, who did not wish to be identified, said that there could be three possible reasons for such drops in enrolment: The inflated enrolment in the year 2022-23 (this figure seems to be highly exaggerated). The mushrooming growth of private schools, even in the neighbourhood of government schools led to a decline in student enrolment. According to a report, not just in UP, government school enrolment in Classes 1-8 fell across several states in the 2024-25 academic year. Bihar noted a dropout of 6.15 lakh students, Rajasthan 5.64 lakh students, West Bengal 4.01 lakh, and Karnataka around 2 lakh in Classes 1-8. Among some other states, the decline in enrolment was: Delhi (1.05 lakh), Tamil Nadu (1.65 lakh), Assam (1.68 lakh), Gujarat (79,416), and Himachal Pradesh (50,469). Officials mentioned 'reverse migration' following the COVID-19 pandemic and added that students who moved from private to state-run schools due to financial constraints went back to private institutions.
