Ferozepur, October 23, 2017: While the government had justified closing down as many as 800 schools having less than 20 students by merging with nearby schools located within a radius of 1 km, the Government Teachers Union, and Opposition parties have criticized the move.
The decision of the government of merging schools was a part of series of educational reforms ushered in the state. The schools situated at a distance of more than 1 km would not be merged even if the strength of the students is less than 20 students.
The Government Teachers Union has reacted to the decision of the government and burn in effigy the government to express resentment at the district headquarters.
On the other hand, the move of the government is to rationalize the education infrastructure to maintain the teacher-student ratio at the needed places. The Secretary School Education has clarified that there is no violation of Right to Education Act as the merger does not mean closing down of the schools. The schools are being merged wherever it is justified for the welfare of the students and no child will be forced to travel more than 1 km.
Expressing concern, the GTU President, Balwinder Singh Bhutto, Rajiv Handa, Senior Vice President, Jaswinder Singh Mamdot, General Secretary said, the government without making the in-depth study of the impact of the decision, have ordered the closure of the schools affecting 1,168 teachers in 22 districts of the state.
They further said the strength in the government schools is on the downward trend because of its wrong policies. With the closure of schools, the strength will further go down in the schools, as the students from these schools would not be in a position to continue their studies at a distant place even if it is less than 1 km.
Taking about the other demands of the teachers, they said, despite making assurances during the recently concluded by-elections at Gurdaspur, no meeting between the Union and the Chief Minister has been arranged.
We have decided to intensify the agitation over the closure of schools. In case the decision to close down the schools is not rolled back, the criticised further programme will be announced on October 25 in which all the Unions will participate.