The Democratic Teachers’ Organisation (DTO), Odisha on Monday criticised the State Government’s decision to shut down as many as 966 primary schools in which the student strength is less than 10 in the current academic session.
DTO president Bibhuti Bhusan Nayak said the Government has a deep-rooted conspiracy in closing the schools to benefit the private educational institutions. The Government is clearing ways for the private educational institutes to attract the students and parents towards them, he added.
Nayak said that if the Government doesn’t roll back the decision, it would lead to further privatisation of the education system. Those who have money would be able to get education and crores of poor students would be deprived of it, he further stated.
DTO secretary Nrusingha Charan Panda said that due to the Government’s decision, employment opportunities for highly-educated, trained youths would be blocked. Students in remote areas would be totally deprived of getting education, he said.
The DTO demanded that the Government withdraw the decision and urged different teachers’ bodies, students’ organisations and parents’ bodies to come forward and join hands to oppose the move.
It might be mentioned that after its decision, the Government has stated that the students of the closed schools will be enrolled in the nearby functional schools.
