Plummeting enrollment and staff shortage: Himachal Pradesh to merge 700 primary schools
Image used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Shimla, July 11,
In Himachal Pradesh, a significant decision looms over the fate of 700 primary schools. Faced with plummeting enrollment rates, Education Minister Rohit Thakur voiced his concern during a departmental meeting, attributing the declining quality of education primarily to a severe staff shortage. The proposed solution is to close down schools with fewer than five students and merge them with nearby institutions.
This drastic measure comes in response to alarming statistics: post-COVID-19, student turnout has dwindled sharply, with 80 schools recording no new enrollments. The 2023 U-DISE report highlighted a concerning dropout of 50,000 students between 2022 and 2023. In light of these findings, the education department has been tasked with preparing a detailed proposal for the mergers by month’s end.
Efforts are underway to map the distances between schools facing closure and their potential new counterparts to minimize the inconvenience for students. This strategic merging aims to consolidate resources and redistribute teachers to schools with higher student populations but inadequate staffing. In the first phase, 700 schools will be targeted, specifically those with fewer than five students. The second phase will identify schools with up to ten students for similar action.
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Education Minister Rohit Thakur emphasized that the quality of education would not be compromised. The goal is to ensure an adequate number of teachers in schools to provide better educational support. “There will be no compromise on the quality of education. A decision has been taken to merge schools to appoint an adequate number of teachers,” Thakur asserted.
Departmental officials have been instructed to expedite the mapping and report preparation to implement the closures and mergers swiftly. This move is seen as a necessary step to address the dwindling student numbers and improve the overall educational landscape in Himachal Pradesh. As preparations continue, the state government is keen to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible for the affected students and teachers, hoping to stem the tide of declining enrollment and revive the standard of education in the region.
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