4000 schools likely to face axe

Decision due to low strength

Hyderabad: As many as 4,200 government schools in Telangana State are likely to face the axe in the next academic year.

In the recent survey conducted by the Department of School Education in about 19,000 schools of the State, around 4,200 schools were able to enroll between 0 and 20. There was zero enrolment in 400 schools; nearly 1,100 schools enrollment varied between 1 and 10 students and 2,700 schools were run for 11-20 students each. As per the GO No. 6 issued in September 2014, the primary schools which have strength between 1 and 20, high schools with less than 75 students would be shut down and students would be accommodated in the neighbouring schools under rationalisation process.

However, the GO was kept in abeyance as the teachers union staunchly opposed the move by the government. With the report throwing some worrisome figures, the government is determined to take a final call on the issue. A top official of education department said: “What is worrying is that three high schools have zero enrollments. Talks with teachers unions would be initiated before rationalisation process is started.”

According to the officials of the School Education Department, at least 800 teachers were working in the schools which have zero enrollments. “What is the use of teachers when there are no students in schools? These teachers have to be merged to schools of the neighbourhood,” an official added. The teachers unions which had strongly opposed rationalisation process earlier, are learnt have given their nod.

By: Yuvraj Akula