Tue Jul 15 03:02:03 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has criticized the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for its plan to merge approximately 5,000 government schools with low enrollment. Gandhi Vadra argues this decision undermines the Right to Education Act and disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, forcing young children, especially girls, to travel long distances to attend school. The Uttar Pradesh government defends the move as a consolidation plan to improve the functionality and viability of the education system by accommodating students from these schools in nearby facilities.

**News Article:**

**Uttar Pradesh Government’s School Merger Plan Faces Opposition from Congress MP**

**Lucknow, July 15, 2025** – A controversial plan by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh to merge approximately 5,000 government schools with low enrollment is drawing sharp criticism, particularly from senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Gandhi Vadra alleges the move will negatively impact the Right to Education Act and disproportionately affect Dalits, backward classes, tribal communities, minorities, and impoverished families. She expressed concerns that closing schools in villages will force young children, particularly girls, to travel long distances, disrupting their education.

“This order of the BJP government is not only against the right to education but is also against the Dalit, backward, tribal, minority, poor and deprived sections,” Gandhi Vadra stated on X.

The Uttar Pradesh government defends the plan as a strategic consolidation aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of the education system. Officials say the merger will ensure students from schools with fewer than 50 students will be accommodated in nearby, better-equipped facilities. This move is designed to make education more viable in the long term.

The decision has sparked debate across the state. Many teachers and opposition political parties have joined Gandhi Vadra in denouncing the plan, arguing that it will harm vulnerable communities and undermine the accessibility of education for all. The situation remains contentious as the government proceeds with its consolidation efforts.

Read More