The debate over reopening schools in Odisha, previously closed under the merger scheme, has taken center stage in the Odisha Assembly.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond has assured that the government will evaluate district-level proposals and consider public demands for reopening these institutions. Concerns raised by both BJP and BJD MLAs emphasize the challenges faced by children in rural areas due to these closures, highlighting the urgency of addressing the issue.
If people demand the reopening of schools that were closed under the merger scheme in the state, the government will consider it and take appropriate action, stated School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond. He explained that proposals related to these demands would be received from the districts and evaluated.
During a discussion on this topic initiated by BJP MLA Purna Chandra Sethi, both BJP and BJD MLAs expressed concern over the closure of schools. They highlighted that children in rural areas are struggling to study due to the closure of primary schools under the merger scheme, and they urged the government to reconsider this decision.
While BJP’s Durga Prasan Nayak and others presented their local issues regarding the closure of schools, BJD’s Ganeswar Behera and Aswini Patra participated in the question-and-answer session, advocating for an immediate government announcement on the matter.
BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera pointed out that the government had promised to reopen closed schools during the elections, raising the hopes and expectations of the people. However, this promise has not been fulfilled, leading to public disappointment. He noted that the government has not published any specific instructions, resulting in the local administration resisting the demands and suggestions from the public at the district level. Despite the government’s statement that they will consider proposals from the districts, the district administration is not accepting these requests, posing the question of how they will reach the state level in Bhubaneswar.
Behera insisted that the government should first correct the issues within the process. BJP’s Durgaprasanna Nayak emphasized that his constituency, the Mahakalpada area of Kendrapara, is surrounded by rivers, canals, and the sea, which present natural barriers that prevent children from crossing to attend school. He asserted that schools should be reopened in various areas rather than closed, allowing children to have access to education.
In response, Minister Nityananda Gond stated that there is a rule permitting the opening of a school if 20 children in Scheduled Caste areas and 40 children in general areas express the desire to study. He noted that many schools were closed arbitrarily during the previous government, which has led to the current problems. He emphasized that the current BJP government has decided to reopen schools only if the necessary number of students enroll, adhering to the defined criteria. Once a proposal is received from the district, it will be considered at the state level, and a decision will be made promptly. He encouraged the public and guardians to present their demands to the district committee where there is a need for a school.
