PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The leader of opposition (LoP) in Vidhan Sabha, Yashpal Arya has said that the decision to close or merge the government schools in Uttarakhand is a clear violation of the article 21 A of the Constitution, Right to Education Act of 2009 and is against the spirit of the section 46 of the directive principles of State policy.
He said that the cluster schools are proposed under the National Educational Policy- 2020 to increase the quality of education and better utilisation of the resources. However it makes no mention of closure or merger of the school, he claimed.
Arya said that recently the State government has taken a decision to merge the schools with less student enrolment with nearby schools and use of words such as quality education and better utilisation of resources has been made in the merger order.
The LoP said that the article 21 A gives the right of free and compulsory education to all the children between six to 14 years of age. He added that section six of RTE act 2009 clearly mentions that it is the responsibility of the State to open a school near every habitation. Arya claimed that a large number of schools will get closed due to the cluster school plan of the government and such action will take the education away from the villages and villagers.
He said that it is unfortunate that the number of liquor shops are increasing in the rural areas while the schools are being closed. The merger of schools will not only affect the children but a large number of posts of headmasters, teachers and other employees will be abolished.
Arya demanded that the merger plan of the schools should immediately stop and the government should guarantee to open a local school in every village as per the provisions of the constitution and RTE act.
