The Haryana government is closing approximately 800 schools across different districts due to low student enrollment, often below 20 per school. About 8,000 students in these schools will be moved to nearby government schools.
Education Department had sought a list of schools with less than 20 students several months ago. There are around 832 such schools in the state. During the shifting process, students are expected to maintain a distance of no more than 1 kilometer between their old and new schools.
While initially suggesting shifting students within a 1-kilometer radius, discussions will now address concerns of those facing longer commutes. Consideration includes providing transportation and deciding on the necessity of the shift.
Political landscape is heating up over this issue, with the opposition questioning the government’s decision. Several schools in the state face a shortage of teachers, leading to a decline in student admissions. This has resulted in the student count falling below 20 in these schools, prompting the swift decision to shift these students to nearby schools.