Bhubaneswar: As many as 426 panchayats in Odisha have no high schools, informed School & Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi in the Assembly today.

The minister was replying to a question by Narla MLA Bhupinder Singh.

As per the information provided by the minister, the state has a total of 8099 high schools.

Replying to another question by Rairangpur MLA Naba Charan Majhi, the minister said as many as 7478 schools have been merged/ closed in the state during the last 10 years. The teachers of such schools were engaged in the nearby schools.

Highest number of schools (604) have been merged/ closed in Gajapati district. Below is the district-wise list.

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