Agartala , Jul 02, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Jul 02: In a letter addressed to Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Tripura Pradesh Congress president Asish Kumar Saha has raised urgent concerns about the state government’s decision to close down 160 schools in rural areas of West Tripura district and 170 schools in rural areas of North Tripura district.

The government’s rationale for these closures is the purported “low student enrolment,” with plans to merge these schools with neighbouring high schools.

Saha emphasized that education is the backbone of any nation and society. He pointed out that the recent disappointing results of Vidyajyoti Schools have exposed the deteriorating state of Tripura’s education system.

The decision to close schools disproportionately affects children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in both plains and hilly rural areas.

The Congress leader also questioned the state government’s commitment to education.

“Despite being responsible for the education system, Chief Minister Dr. Saha’s leadership has witnessed a decline in educational standards”, he mentioned in the letter.

Saha urged the government to reconsider its approach and prioritize the right to education for all children.

Furthermore, the TPCC president highlighted the Right to Education Act passed by the Congress government in 2009, which made education a fundamental right for children aged 1-14 years across the country.

Saha criticized the recent “Education Policy 2020” for potentially commercializing and monopolizing education, favouring the wealthy.

“The merger of small village schools with larger city schools has led to an alarming increase in drop-out rates. Tripura currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest drop-out rate in the country. Many villages lack accessible roads, making it challenging for students to travel to distant “advanced” schools”, read the letter.

In light of these concerns, Tripura Pradesh Congress appealed to the government and the chief minister who also holds the education portfolio not to close the specified schools and also demanded to appoint an adequate number of teachers in all the schools across the state.