Odisha govt closes 735 schools after student enrolment declines

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government closed total 735 primary and upper primary schools where less than 10 students were enrolled this academic session.

The students, who got admission in those state-run schools, have been transferred to other schools. This year, only 4,398 students have enrolled in those schools.

An official notification issued by State School & Mass Education department says that 714 primary schools and 21 upper primary schools have been closed due to poor enrolment of students this year.

Sources in the department said that there will be no teacher appointment in those schools which have failed to register number of admission.

Also, focus will not be given on infrastructure development of those schools, official sources said.

The government has decided to impart quality education and infrastructure in the primary level.

As per a district level survey report last year, total 4,659 students were enrolled in those schools during last academic session, while number has declined this year.

Earlier, the district education officers were directed to submit a final report after verifying U-DISE database.

The decision to close the schools was made on basis of report submitted by June 30.

The existing teachers in those schools will be transferred to other schools.

As per the notification by the department, the highest 125 including 121 primary schools will be closed in Rayagada district affecting 524 students, while 93 schools were closed in Kandhamal district.

Similarly, the number of schools closed in Angul was eight, 31 in Bargarh, 9 in Bhadrak, 14 in Balangir, 14 in Boudh, 34 in Cuttack, 10 in Deogarh, 14 in Dhenkanal, 49 in Gajapati, 56 in Ganjam, one in Jajpur, 12 in Jharsuguda, 14 in Kendrapara, 18 in Khurda, 43 in Koraput, 4 in Nabarangpur, 19 in Nayagarh, 37 in Nuapada, 19 in Puri, 29 in Sambalpur, 19 in Sonepur and 63 in Sundergarh district.