The Tripura government has begun identifying schools with fewer than 50 students and is considering merging them with nearby educational institutes that have higher enrolment, according to an official statement on Sunday. This initiative, prompted by a recent directive from the Centre, is expected to conclude by the end of June.

Kaliprasad Chakma, Officer on Special Duty in the Education department, explained that district education officers have been tasked with identifying government schools with less than 50 students for potential merger with institutes having better enrolment. The aim is to enhance the student-teacher ratio and optimize resources.

Chakma further noted that the government may consolidate these schools preferably within a radius of 1 to 1.5 kilometers after completing the identification process. Initial reports indicate that Tripura has around 800 junior and senior basic schools with student enrolments below 50, out of approximately 2,500 such schools statewide.

Following completion of the identification exercise, the department plans to consult with school management committees (SMCs) and local bodies before submitting a report to the government for a final decision on the mergers.

The objective behind this move is to rationalize the student-teacher ratio in primary level government schools. Chakma highlighted discrepancies such as three teachers being assigned to a junior basic school with only 13 students, while other schools face shortages of teaching staff. This exercise aims to address such imbalances in resource allocation.

In response to these developments, Md. Shajahan Islam, leader of the state’s youth Congress, criticized the BJP-led government for allegedly pushing underprivileged students towards private schools due to the closure of government schools with low enrolment. He voiced concerns over reports of potential closures of 160 schools in West Tripura district alone, arguing that this move would adversely affect access to education for economically disadvantaged students.

Sujit Tripura, general secretary of the CPI(M)-backed Tribal Students’ Union, accused the government of attempting to shut down schools in rural and tribal areas, thereby depriving tribal students of their right to education.

Source: PTI

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