Karnataka to merge 13K schools with lower enrolments, AIDSO criticizes

The Karnataka government has decided to merge 13,800 schools in the state which have lesser than 25 students, the move is criticised by the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO).

Due to low enrolments in the state government-run schools, the government has decided to merge 13,800 schools with lesser than 25 students. However, the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) is not pleased with the decision and criticised the government's move.

AIDSO opines that instead of closing schools, the government's priority should be to improve the quality of education.

The Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh has admitted that the enrolment in these schools is low due to the quality of education, especially in rural areas.

“The education minister has accepted that lack of facilities in government schools is the cause for low admission rate. Improving the facilities at the schools should have been the government’s priority. The current academic year has witnessed serious crisis where 10 lakh students dropped out of schools in the state,” said AIDSO state secretary Ajay Kamath in a statement, as reported by Indian Express.

"The “anti-school” scheme is part of NEP implementation. The organisation has begun a nationwide signature campaign against its implementation," he added.

Goa faces similar issues

The primary government schools in Goa face similar issues of low enrolment and due to this eight more such schools have been closed in the state since last year.

The Education Minister and Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant has apprised the assembly that in the academic year 2021-22, there were 726 government primary schools that were functional and this year only 718 are functional.

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