In Uttar Pradesh, many teachers have gone to the High Court to stop the government from closing primary schools with fewer students. These schools are called "Prasiddh Vidyalayas" and are known in villages for giving free education to poor children. The teachers say the government does not want poor children to study. They feel the government now sees the education of poor children as a burden.
Teacher Himanshu Rana, who is leading the protest, says the decision to close schools is very dangerous. He says children aged 6 to 14 years will lose their right to free and basic education. This is against their fundamental rights given by the Constitution.
According to the new order, about 27,000 schools will be closed or merged across the state. This is a very big number. These schools are in villages where most children come from poor families. Many of them walk to school because it is nearby. If their school closes, they may have to walk very far or even stop going to school.
The Education Department and Village Development Department are asking school committees to agree to the closure. They are trying very hard to get signatures. Even the District Magistrate is getting involved. But many Village Heads, BDC members, and School Management Committee chairpersons are against the plan.
These leaders say this is not the right time. Panchayat elections are coming, and people are angry. If schools close now, it will hurt children and the village’s trust in the government.
The teachers also say that for many years, the government took money in the name of improving education. They talked about innovation, smart classrooms, better quality learning, and so on. But now, instead of making schools better, they are just closing them.
Himanshu Rana says closing schools is like giving up. He says, “If a part of the body becomes weak, we treat it. We don’t declare the whole person dead and start preparing for last rites.” He compares the school to a human body. Even if the student number is low, the solution is not to shut down the school. The solution is to improve it.
He says that instead of helping government schools, officers encouraged the opening of private schools. These schools charged money and slowly took away students. That is why the number of students in government schools went down. If the government had fixed problems like a lack of books, teachers, toilets, clean water, and proper classrooms, children would have stayed.
But now, instead of fixing the problems, the government is saying the school has fewer children and should be closed. Himanshu Rana and his group say this is not fair. It is not the fault of the children. It is not the fault of the parents. It is not the fault of the school. It is the fault of the system that didn’t support these schools.
Now the Education Department wants to merge schools. That means two or more small schools will be joined into one. But this will create many problems. Children will have to travel far. Some may not go to school at all. Teachers will have more students than they can handle. And the bond between the school and the village will be broken.
Many school buildings will be locked and unused. They may get damaged or misused. In many villages, schools are not just for education. They are also used as community centers during elections, health camps, and meetings. Closing them will hurt the entire community.
The Village Management Committees (VMCs), which are made up of local parents and leaders, are strongly opposing the move. They are saying that their voice was not heard before the decision. Many say that government officers are forcing them to sign the merger form. But they don’t want their village school to close.
Some teachers say the government is only looking at numbers. If there are fewer students, they say the school is not needed. But teachers ask – is this fair? Can education be counted only in numbers? What about the dreams of the poor children? What about their right to sit in a class, read a book, and learn something new every day?
Himanshu Rana and his team, known as the "Shiksha Sangharsh Morcha," are now trying to stop this policy. They are visiting schools, talking to people, and spreading awareness. They say that every child has the right to study. And every village has the right to have its school.
They believe that if proper steps are taken, student numbers can increase again. They suggest that schools should be given better classrooms, sports facilities, computer labs, trained teachers, and good mid-day meals. If children feel happy and safe in school, they will come back.
Many people in the village say that their children are too young to go far. If their school is merged and moved, they will not send their daughters. This may cause a big drop in girls’ education. That is another reason why the school merger plan is being criticized.
Parents say education is not just about books. It is also about care, trust, and connection. In small village schools, teachers know every student. They know their homes, their problems, and their strengths. This bond is lost in big schools.
The protest is getting stronger every day. Teachers are writing to the Chief Minister. They are using social media. They are going to court. They are doing everything they can to save the schools.
In court, the teachers are saying that this decision breaks the Right to Education Act. This law says that every child has the right to free education near their home. If the school is closed, this right will be taken away.
Education experts also agree that instead of closing schools, the government should work on fixing the problems. A school is not just about numbers. It is about hope. It is about the future. It is about giving every child a chance to dream.
Now the people are waiting to see what the High Court will say. Till then, teachers like Himanshu Rana and groups like Shiksha Sangharsh Morcha are standing strong. They are fighting not just for buildings, but for the future of poor children across the state.
👉NIPUN App Upgrade to Track Student Learning in UP Schools https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/07/nipun-app-upgrade.html
👉UP LT Grade & Lecturer Recruitment 2025 Update https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/up-lt-grade-lecturer-recruitment-2025.html
👉UP NIPUN Bharat Mission 2025-26 https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/up-nipun-bharat-mission-2025-26_01256208403.html
👉Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0 – A Mission of Love and Nature by Indian Schools https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/ek-ped-maa-ke-naam.html
👉CBSE Class 10 Board Exam Twice a Year from 2026 https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/CBSE%20News.html
👉Mission Samvaad: A New Hope for Teachers and Education https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/mission-samvaad.html
👉UP Basic Schools Holiday List 2025 – Full Details for Students and Teachers https://upbasicschoolnews.blogspot.com/2025/07/up-basic-school-2025-holiday-list.html
