The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) has warned the State government not to take a unilateral decision on closure of primary schools and advised it to make independent assessment of each school on the impact of closure.
Taking cognizance of a petition filed by Ghasiram Panda, a right activist, the OSCPCR said merger and closure of various government primary schools have taken place in different districts.
“School closure is a sensitive issue, especially since it affects the education of children and the status of recruited teachers too. The decision of the School and Mass Education Department to close down in the pretext of low enrolment is going to deny the access to elementary education in the neighbourhood school as provided under Right of the Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,” OSCPCR chairperson Kasturi Mohapatra said.
Ms. Mohapatra said children of the very poor in the villages and girls who cannot go to far away schools are the ones who will be affected by this decision.
Parents not consulted
Mr. Panda had alleged that the Odisha Government had closed down 165 primary schools in the State and has decided to go ahead with gradual closure of primary and upper primary schools, where overall student enrolment is found to be less than five. The petitioner pointed out that neither parents nor the community leaders were consulted before the decision was taken.
“Closure of government schools will promote the establishment of English medium private schools. This would no doubt damage the public education system, which is already facing serious challenge from the private sector. By doing this we are generously giving permission to private institutions to start English medium schools in each and every lane”, the OSCPCR chairperson observed.
Serious introspection should be made as to why parents are unwilling to send their children to government schools when the State government is providing free text books, uniforms, no admission fees free mid-day meals, bicycles and scholarships to attract and retain students in primary schools, the commission directed.
It directed the School and Mass Education department that the distance factor instead of number criteria should be given importance so as to ascertain if there are other schools in the vicinity to accommodate the children. The Commission also called for a detailed report on school closures from Odisha Primary Education Programme Authority.
