School merger plans in Uttar Pradesh have drawn sharp criticism from the state Congress unit, which alleges that the move is a disguised attempt to shut down government-run primary and upper primary schools. The policy targets institutions with fewer than 50 students and, according to the Congress, threatens the educational rights of underprivileged children who rely on free, accessible schooling.
Congress Raises Red Flag Over School Closures
Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai has come out strongly against the initiative, calling it an “attempt to deprive the children of the common man of their right to education.” He argues that while the state’s education department claims it is simply correcting the student-teacher ratio, the reality on the ground indicates a systematic effort to reduce the number of operational government schools.
Rai has accused basic education officers of already implementing the plan by selecting schools for merging based on low student strength. In districts like Unnao, schools with fewer than 10 students have been marked for merger; in Mathura, the threshold is 20 students; and in Lucknow, it is 50. “The term ‘pairing’ is being used to disguise what is essentially a closure,” he said.
Letter to Governor Highlights Concerns
In response to the policy, Rai has written to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, demanding that the merger process be halted immediately. In his letter, he warned that the merger policy violates educational rights and may lead to thousands of schools being shut down across the state.
He also expressed alarm over the long-term consequences of such a move, especially in rural areas where government schools are often the only available option. “Instead of improving these schools, the government is choosing to shut them down,” Rai wrote.
Fear of Privatisation and Loss of Access
One of the core concerns raised by the Congress is the fear that the school merger policy will make way for increased privatisation of education. Rai pointed out that the government has already failed to uphold existing norms that prohibit private schools from operating within a one-kilometre radius of government schools. With public schools closing, private institutions are expected to fill the gap—at a cost most families cannot afford.
“This is a clear sign that the BJP government wants to hand over the education sector to private players,” Rai alleged. He warned that if this continues, children from poor and marginalised families will be pushed out of the education system entirely.
Congress Demands Reforms, Not Reductions
The Congress has demanded that the government take immediate corrective measures, including filling vacant teaching positions, upgrading school infrastructure, and ensuring that students are provided with a healthy learning environment. Rai stressed that school reforms should aim to strengthen public education, not reduce it.
“The government should focus on improving the condition of existing schools rather than closing them,” he said. “Every child should have access to quality education within their locality.”
A Broader Political and Social Issue
The issue of school mergers is now growing into a larger political flashpoint. The Congress has promised to oppose the move at every step, both in legislative forums and on the ground. Civil society groups, parents, and educators are also beginning to voice concern over the long-term implications of school consolidation in a state as large and diverse as Uttar Pradesh.
The policy comes at a time when the education system is still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, including severe learning loss and dropout rates. Critics argue that shutting down small schools now will further alienate students who are already struggling to stay connected to formal education.
As public debate intensifies, all eyes are on the state government to reconsider its approach. Whether the merger plan will move forward or face rollback remains to be seen, but the issue has undoubtedly struck a nerve in the ongoing conversation about the future of public education in India.
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