Bhubaneswar: Congress members on Saturday expressed concerns over the State government's closure plan of 1000 high schools and demanded assurance from the ruling-BJD of not going ahead with the proposal.
Citing a media report which states that the Directorate of Secondary Education has sent a draft proposal for the closure of more than 1000 aided high schools in the State, in the Odisha Assembly, Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra questioned how the State School and Mass Education department took the decision when the House is in session.
Mishra demanded an assurance from the School and Mass Education Minister Samir Dash that the government will not go ahead with the proposal. As the Minister did not give any assurance, the Congress leader walked out of the House.
“As per the provision, the government cannot take any policy decision when the Assembly session is underway. However, as per the available information, the government is going to take a decision which will lead to closure of 1000 high schools. The government should not take any concrete decision in this regard without a discussion in the Assembly,” Mishra told media persons.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said not a single school will be allowed to close down in the State without a discussion in the Assembly and demanded the Speaker to give a ruling on the issue.
On the other hand, replying to a question the School and Mass Education Minister clarified that no decision has been taken yet on the closure of the schools. He said the Directorate of Secondary Education has issued the draft proposal and discussion on it is underway.
(Edited By Pradeep Singh)