June 21, 2025 | Lucknow | By Aroalo News Desk
In the heartland of Uttar Pradesh, a policy that promises “efficiency” in education is facing the heat for potentially widening the education gap. The state government’s recent push to merge under-enrolled rural schools with larger institutions has drawn intense criticism, with many questioning whether logistical convenience is being prioritized over educational equity.
At the center of the storm is Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the state administration of turning a blind eye to the unique struggles faced by children in rural and marginalized communities. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Yadav warned that the move would alienate thousands of students from access to basic schooling, and ultimately deepen existing inequalities.
What’s the Plan?
The Uttar Pradesh education department recently rolled out a plan to consolidate thousands of government-run primary and upper-primary schools that have student enrollments below a defined threshold—typically less than 30. The idea, officials claim, is to improve the efficiency of resource allocation, ensure better teacher deployment, and provide students with improved infrastructure.
However, the ground realities suggest that this merger strategy may inadvertently penalize the very communities it aims to serve.
In remote villages, where access to transportation remains poor and safety is a concern, walking 2–5 kilometers daily to a new school is not just an inconvenience—it’s a deterrent. In many households, especially among economically weaker sections, parents are unwilling or unable to send their children that far. For girls, the impact is even more severe, often leading to higher dropout rates due to safety and cultural restrictions.
Voices from the Field
At a dilapidated school building in the outskirts of Banda district, 12-year-old Radha Devi looks anxious. “If my school shifts, I won’t be able to go,” she says in a hushed voice. Her mother, a farm laborer, explains that the next closest school is nearly 4 kilometers away through forest paths. “How can I let her go alone?”
This is not an isolated concern. In dozens of interviews conducted across rural blocks in eastern and central Uttar Pradesh, a consistent message emerges—parents fear the closure of their local schools will push their children out of education entirely.
Akhilesh Yadav Slams Government ‘Insensitivity’
Calling the merger move “anti-poor” and “anti-reservation,” Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government for ignoring a fundamental issue: over 2 lakh teaching positions remain vacant in the state. “Instead of filling teacher vacancies and improving school facilities, the government wants to reduce the number of schools. This is not reform; it’s abandonment.”
He also warned that the move could weaken affirmative action policies. “The majority of these under-enrolled schools serve SC/ST and OBC communities. Merging them will dilute access to reserved seats and local jobs,” Yadav added.
Policy Experts Weigh In
While the idea of merging schools is not new—and has been implemented in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh—critics say that without proper planning, such measures do more harm than good.
“Any school rationalization effort should begin with a transportation and safety audit,” says Prof. Rekha Singh, an education policy analyst with the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration. “If you close schools without ensuring how children will reach the next one, you risk pushing them out altogether.”
She further adds that school mergers in India often fail because the system assumes uniformity. “But education is hyper-local. One-size-fits-all policies are a recipe for exclusion.”
The Teacher Crisis
Uttar Pradesh’s education system has long been plagued by a massive shortfall of trained teachers. According to official data, over 200,000 posts for assistant teachers in primary and upper-primary schools remain unfilled.
Instead of hiring more educators, the merger plan seeks to “optimize” the existing workforce—spreading already-thin resources even thinner. In practice, this means overburdening teachers and reducing student-teacher interaction, especially in higher grades.
“Imagine a teacher managing five grades in one room. It’s already happening. Now take away schools, add more students, and the result is chaos,” said Neelam Kumari, a teacher from Azamgarh.
Girls Hit the Hardest
The ripple effect of school mergers will be disproportionately felt by girl students. Data from the National Sample Survey Office shows that safety, sanitation, and distance are three major reasons why adolescent girls drop out.
By shifting education centers farther away, the policy may unintentionally reinforce regressive norms that keep girls out of classrooms. “We’ve fought for years to keep girls in school. This move could undo that progress overnight,” says Ritu Raj, who runs a local NGO for girl child education in Sitapur.
Way Forward
As protests gather momentum and opposition leaders rally against the policy, education experts suggest a more nuanced approach:
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Localized Audits – Every proposed merger must undergo a local needs analysis, considering transportation, terrain, and demographic impact.
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Transport Solutions – Provision of school buses or bicycle schemes could help mitigate access issues.
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Hiring Push – Fast-tracking the recruitment of teachers should be the first priority before shutting down any school.
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Community Consultation – Involving village communities in the decision-making process can ensure greater acceptance and better outcomes.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Uttar Pradesh’s school merger policy is not just about numbers or infrastructure. It’s about trust. Trust that the system will not leave rural children—especially girls and the marginalized—behind in the name of efficiency. As the debate intensifies, one thing is clear: education cannot be a casualty of cost-cutting.