Odisha: Opposition Against Govt's Closure Decision For Schools With Poor Attendance Gathering Steam

Bolangir: Protest against Odisha government's decision to close down schools with poor attendance is once again gathering steam in the State as the Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangh, an organisation of parents/ guardians has begun mobilising support against the move in various districts.

The members of the Mahasangh who are visiting different districts to unite the guardians and parents against the move have targeted the government for issuing such notification without conducting a feasibility study on the matter.

The members of the parents’ body toured to different areas in Bargarh, Bolangir and other district of western Odisha and submitted memorandum to the Collectors in these districts, which would be forwarded to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The Mahasangh questioned the government's silence over mushrooming growth of private schools in urban and rural areas.

"We have opposed the government’s decision to close 11,517 schools. We have demanded that the decision to close these schools be put on hold. The government should rather close down the illegal private schools functioning in the State first and lodge FIR against them for running business in the name of education," said Basudev Bhatt, president of Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangh.

Notably, the government has announced to close down schools having less than 20 students, across the State. If there are two schools situated within one kilometre distance, then schools having student strength of less than 25 in schedule areas and 40 in non-schedule area would have been shut.

The Mahasangh had earlier shot up letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking intervention in the matter. It also demanded ouster of School and Mass Education Minister from the State Cabinet for showing undue favour to the private schools.

Bhatt had earlier observed that private English medium schools are functioning in the vicinity of these government-run schools. As a result, a majority of students from the government schools have already shifted to the private schools. The opening of the new schools would further encourage the dropout rate.

The decision of the government had triggered political outcry in State with Opposition BJP and Congress creating uproarious scenes in the recently concluded winter session of the State Assembly.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)