Sat Jun 21 06:35:53 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government is initiating a plan to merge government primary and upper primary schools with fewer than 50 students into nearby educational facilities. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is criticizing this move, with party president Akhilesh Yadav calling it a deliberate strategy by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to deprive poor students of education. The SP argues that the merger will disproportionately affect marginalized and economically deprived children in rural areas, forcing them out of the education system. The SP pledges to support teachers’ demands and increase the budget allocation for primary and secondary education to 10%, comparable to progressive states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
**News Article:**
**Uttar Pradesh School Mergers Spark Controversy: Samajwadi Party Accuses BJP of Anti-Poor Education Policy**
**Lucknow, June 21, 2025** – A plan by the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department to merge government primary and upper primary schools with enrollments below 50 students is facing heavy criticism from the Samajwadi Party (SP). The move, aimed at consolidating educational resources and improving efficiency, has been labeled by SP President Akhilesh Yadav as a “calculated strategy” to deny access to education for the state’s poorest children.
Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, Mr. Yadav stated, “School merger is a deliberate and calculated strategy to keep the poor away from education. This government is heartless. Such a decision will impact the rural children hailing mostly from marginalised and economically deprived groups.” He warned that the policy would effectively force children in rural areas out of the education system.
The Uttar Pradesh government defends the move, stating that merging schools will allow for better resource allocation and ensure continued education for students in under-enrolled institutions. However, the SP remains unconvinced, arguing that it disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable populations.
SP spokesperson Ram Pratap Singh echoed Mr. Yadav’s concerns, stating, “Deprived sections of our population in U.P. are completely dependent on the State-run education system and reviewing and reducing of schooling infrastructure is not a prudent approach.” He called for a significant increase in the education budget, demanding that it be raised to 10% to match the investment levels of states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Mr. Yadav further pledged the SP’s unwavering support for teachers, promising to address their longstanding demands if the party is elected to power.
The proposed school mergers and the ensuing political controversy highlight the ongoing debate surrounding education policy and its impact on vulnerable communities in Uttar Pradesh. The U.P. government has directed officials to create a plan with the data collected on the schools with under 50 students. The SP’s strong opposition indicates that the issue is likely to remain a point of contention in the state’s political landscape.
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