Ferozepur, April 2, 2013: The decision of the Punjab Government Education Department to close 690 primary schools in the state, by merging the schools falling within the radius of 1-km, has received a strong protest from the students and parents. On the other hand, the Education Reforms Committee appreciated the decision of the government in view of poor rationalisation with regard to posting of teaching staff as per the fixed student-teacher ratio.
Though the government has ordered to review the merger of decision but to streamline the working of the Education Department, the strong political will is required keeping in view the education of the students and not the political vote bank. While talking to the retired educationist Sat Pal Chopra, he said, the policy of Education Department, first while opening the school and now closing down itself speaks about the efficiency in planning of the department. In fact, the poor management with regard to posting of teacher as per the student-ration has resulted in taking this decision.
The students and parents of Guruharsahai near Ferozepur registered their protest, on the closure of Govt. Primary Rishi Valmiki School. There are students from about 124 families of the town who cannot afford high fee of private schools. They demanded from the Punjab Government not to close this school. It is pertinent to mention that this school is being merged in the school which is already having about 300 students and lacking the infrastructure and before merging the government should see that adequate teaching staff as per the teacher student ratio is available besides the required infrastructure.