By TC News Desk
Agartala, 26th June 2024: A wave of discontent has swept through the state following the government’s announcement of a plan to close 160 schools. This decision has sparked a thorough analysis of the potential ramifications, prompting an emergency meeting at Jugal Kishore Nagar SB School on Wednesday.
The meeting held under the auspices of the school management committee drew a diverse crowd including parents, students and local residents. The closure list which is expected to be released soon reportedly includes Jugal Kishore Nagar SB School causing significant alarm among the community.
Chairman of the school management committee Bijan Debbarma emphasized the critical importance of keeping the school open. “Most of the students in this area come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. If this school is closed, these children will face insurmountable challenges in accessing education at a distant school,” Debbarma stated.
The nearest alternative Telrovan Higher Secondary School is at least five kilometers away a distance that many students cannot manage. “It will be impossible for the students of this area to commute such a distance,” Debbarma added.
Parents echoed these concerns, stressing that the closure would severely impact their children’s education. “If the Jugal Kishore Nagar SB School closes, our children’s education will suffer greatly,” one parent remarked. “We urge the Chief Minister to reconsider this decision for the sake of our youth.”
The situation is dire not only for Jugal Kishore Nagar SB School but for many other schools in the ADC area. “There are many schools that, if closed, will leave students with no viable options for continuing their education,” a local resident pointed out.
Statistics paint a grim picture: the closure of 160 schools will result in the loss of 1,099 vacancies and displace 3,307 students. The government plans to merge these schools with others up to five kilometers away, but 95 of the identified schools lack proper transportation infrastructure.
The consolidation effort does not stop here. Reports indicate that about 188 more schools across various districts are slated for closure in subsequent phases. The situation is particularly acute in the ADC area, where 588 schools operate without a single teacher.