Dainik Nation News Portal
More than 700 government schools that having less than 10 students have been shut down in both divisions of Uttrakhand state (Kumaun and Garhwal). In Kumaun division alone, 396 schools were closed during the present education session.
Decreasing numbers in both divisions could affect close to 2,430 schools that are on the verge of being closed.
Ever since the state of Uttarakhand was created in 2000 the number of students in government primary schools has decreased to less than 50 percent. Concerned with the declining number, the education department had ordered that such schools having 10 or less students should be integrated with nearby schools.
According to officials of the Education Department, the reason for the drop in the number of students is mainly due to people in the Garhwal hill leaving the area — in a hurry to settle either in Kotdwar or Dehradun and its surroundings. As a result, a situation has been created due to migration of a significant portion of the population. Parents are also giving more preference to private school over government schools, leading to the decline in numbers
