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Bhubaneswar: As many as 6,340 schools in Odisha with a strength of less than 20 students will soon be closed, a notification issued by the State School and Mass Education department over implementation guidelines for the policy of rationalisation and consolidation of schools has revealed.
The notice stated that around 11,517 schools of the State will be merged with nearby government schools through a transparent and participatory process in view of the less number of enrolments and lack of infrastructure in these schools.
The primary objective of this exercise is to improve the learning environment and outcomes for students. This will be achieved by streamlining and increasing teacher per grade, with better infrastructure and concentrated investment of resources, the S&ME department stated in its official notification.
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Similarly, 5,177 primary schools across the State which have 40 or less than 40 students will also be shut down. For a Primary school, a nearby Primary (l-V)/ Upper Primary (l-Vlll/Vl-Vlll)/ Secondary (l-X), will be identified for consolidation. Similarly for an Upper Primary (l-Vlll/Vl-Vlll), a nearby Upper Primary (l-Vlll/Vl-Vlll) or High School (l-X/Vl-X), may be identified for the merger process, read the notification.
The Right to Education Act (2009) will be strictly followed during the consolidation process. If the lead school distance is beyond 1 km, escort/transport allowance as per RTE norms will be provided to the student.
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The S&ME Department has further directed the schools to transfer the students to the identified Lead School by the start of the academic year 2020-21, i.e. from April 3, 2020. After consolidation, the new institution will normally be named after the Lead School. All Schools created after such consolidation shall be deemed to be Co-Education schools.
Every student of the satellite school who will be consolidated with another school will be provided a one-time Facilitation Allowance of Rs 3,000, on their admission to the lead school. Besides, all teachers/Head Masters/Staff (including mid-day meal cook) of satellite schools will also move to the lead school without any change in their service conditions.
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