Shimla, July 26

Having taken the bold step of closing down 99 government schools with zero enrolment and 333 schools with less than five students, the state government will set up libraries, gymnasia and other community facilities in the buildings which get vacant after the rationalisation process.

432 buildings to fall vacant

• A total of 89 primary schools and 10 middle schools are being closed.
• Apart from this, 287 primary and 46 middle schools having five or less students will be merged with the nearest school within two kms radius and five kms radius, respectively.
• As such, 432 school buildings will become vacant and will be put to use as per the wishes of the local panchayat.
• Over 500 teachers, who were posted in these schools, will be transferred to schools having only one or two teachers.

A total of 89 primary schools and 10 Middle schools are being closed in the absence of even a single student being on the rolls in these schools. Apart from this, 287 primary and 46 middle schools having five or less students will be merged with the nearest school within two kms radius and five kms radius, respectively. As such, 432 school buildings will become vacant and will be put to use as per the wishes of the local panchayat and the villagers even though these will remain the property of the Education Department.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appears to be in the action mode to cut down on wasteful expenditure even if invites criticism. With the debt burden crossing Rs 85,000 crore, Himachal has been left with no option but to take some harsh measures. He has already announced withdrawal of subsidy on power for all income tax payers which could be extended to other services like water and subsidised and free travel.

The over 500 teachers who were posted in these schools will be transferred to schools having only one or two teachers. Government schools in districts of Chamba, Sirmaur, Shimla and Kullu have the maximum vacancies, affecting the studies of students.

With thrust being on qualitative expansion of educational institutions, the government has been forced to take this step. The steep decline in the number of students in government schools has forced the government to take several initiatives like introduction of English.

The total enrolment in government schools from Class I to Class 12 which was 10.50 lakh 20 years back has now dipped to 7.50 lakh. Similarly, the number of students in Class I was 1.32 lakh has now fallen to 49,000 in the entire state. There is a huge shortage of teachers in the government schools with 322 primary schools not having even a single teacher. Apart from this 3,400 out of 10,500 primary schools are being run by a single teacher.