‘New Direction for Education’: UP government highlights school merger benefits, impacts on other states

Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, schools are being linked together to facilitate shared use of resources, improve teaching quality, and provide a better educational environment for children. The school merger initiatives in other states have also observed improvements in enrollment, student attendance, and teacher efficiency.

Several states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Assam, observed visible improvements after the implementation of the school merger policy.

Recently, as per local media reports, the Allahabad High Court has put a stay on the UP school merger. The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on August 21 and ordered the government to maintain the status quo till then. A division bench passed an interim order in a petition filed by 51 students of Sitapur district against the school closure.

Benefits of School Merger

A few benefits of the school merger initiative are listed below.

• Seamless education from pre-primary to upper primary.
• Better utilization of school resources.
• Improved student-teacher ratio.
• Increase in student enrollment through grade learning and peer learning.
• Competitions like group sports, debates, plays, quizzes, etc.
• Development of digital and 21st-century-ready skills.
• Facilities like smart classes, playgrounds, and computer labs in primary/upper primary schools.

The initiative prepares for a better future for the primary, upper primary, and higher classes of children under the Chief Minister Abhyudaya Composite School for pre-primary to Class 8. This will also include modernization at a cost of Rs 1.42 crore for smart classes, library, computer lab, dining hall, CCTV, and open gym. For primary to Class 12, Rs 30 crore for 1,500 student capacity, 30 smart classes, science lab, digital library, skill development center, and playground.

Also read ‘Barrier to Education’: Call to withdraw UP order on merging schools with fewer than 50 students

Achievements of Uttar Pradesh after school merger

A few achievements of the state in the direction of quality and inclusive education are as follows.

• Operation Kayakalp: Saturation of 19 parameters in schools.
• DBT: Rs 1200 for each student’s uniform, bag, and stationery.
• Nipun Vidyalaya: 48,061 schools declared Nipun.
• ASER/NAS Report: Significant improvement in quality education, Uttar Pradesh included in the top-10.
• Training: Continuous enhancement of teachers' capabilities.

Additionally, as per the basic education department’s update, the government has advised the general public not to fall for misconceptions such as schools being closed due to parking or that schools will be used as pre-primary/Balvatika. Also, there will be no reduction in teacher positions.