Uttar Pradesh set to merge over 27,000 low-enrollment government schools

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to shut down 27,000 schools due to declining enrolment and poor infrastructure. This move aims to consolidate resources and improve the quality of education in the state.

In Short

• There are 27,764 basic schools with fewer than 50 students in UP
• The goal is to combine schools with low enrolment into nearby schools
• Each school will also need to submit a brief one-page report

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced plans to merge 27,764 basic schools with fewer than 50 students as part of an effort to streamline educational resources. In a review meeting on October 23, Director General of Education Kanchan Verma instructed all Block School Administrators (BSAs) to start preparations for merging these schools.

The goal is to combine schools with low enrolment into nearby schools with larger student populations. That could help improve infrastructure and the system of primary education, allowing for better resource allocation and improved educational support.

Under the consolidation plan, students from the schools that have low enrolment will be relocated to nearby institutions to maintain their access to education. Block School Administrators (BSAs) are required to submit their reports on the proposed school mergers by November 14, 2024 that could be used for further processes.

The Union government's commitment to creating more efficient and practical schools was highlighted in the recent meeting, where review steps were discussed.

Education officials have been instructed to create a framework for merging schools, taking into account factors like transportation, student accessibility, and geographical challenges such as canals and highways.

Each school will also need to submit a brief one-page report outlining its current status, which will contribute to a detailed booklet of all schools involved in the merger process for district-level evaluation.

“The primary aim is to consolidate resources by integrating schools with low student populations into nearby schools that have a higher enrolment,” an official said.

The state capital alone will witness the merger of more than 300 institutions out of 1618, said an official.