Lok Sabha Question No. 844 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-21
Subject: Closure of Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 844 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 st  NOVEMBER, 2016

## Closure of Schools

## 844. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that a large number of Government schools have been shut down in the country  recently  despite  a  good  number  of  children  in  them  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof, State-wise;

(b)  the  reasons  for  the  closure  of  such  schools  during  the  last  three  years  and  the Government's reaction thereto;

(c)  whether  it  is  also  a  fact  that  student  enrolment  increased  in  private  schools  as  against decline in enrolment in Government schools during the last three years; and

(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) & (b): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which came into force from 1 st April, 2010 provides children's access to elementary schools within the defined area or limits of neighbourhood. In pursuance to Section 6 of the RTE Act, all States have notified area or limits of their neighbourhood norms and schools are sanctioned to them  accordingly.  Further,  the  RTE  Act,  2009  also  mandates  under  Section  8  that  the appropriate  government  shall  provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary  education  to  every child and will ensure availability of a neighbourhood schools.

The opening and closing of schools are within  the  purview of State  Governments and UT Administrations.  Unified  District  Information  System  for  Education  (UDISE)  does  not capture information on the number of closed down elementary schools.

Some States and UTs are undertaking an exercise to positively consolidate schools  with a view  to  strengthen  elementary  education  and  for  optimum  utilization  of  resources.  The Ministry of Human Resource Development has emphasized that the States and UTs need to take adequate safeguards to ensure that neighbourhood access of any child is not affected by this exercise.

(c) & (d): As per UDISE, the enrolment in private schools at elementary level has shown an increase of 8.47% from 2012-13 to 2014-15. In government schools the enrolment of children at elementary level has decreased by 1.02% from 2012-13 to 2014-15. The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA)  provides  assistance  to State  Governments  and  UTs  to  ensure  quality  elementary  education  for  all  children. Universal enrolment is the first goal of SSA, and hence all efforts are being made to bring all children in schools. SSA has provided 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools for ensuring universal provisioning of schooling facilities. Preference for opening of school is given to tribal areas, and areas with high concentration of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and  minority  population.  In  addition,  3609  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika  Vidyalayas,  which  are residential schools for girls at upper primary level, have also been sanctioned to the States for improving  access  to  marginalised  girls  particularly  out  of  school,  either  drop  out  or  never enrolled. The number of total children enrolled at elementary level has increased from 15.1 crores in 1998-99 to 19.7 crore at present. Under SSA, provisions have also been made for residential schools/hostels and transportation/ escort facility for children living in sparsely populated areas, children living in areas where schools cannot be opened due to unavailability of land and children in need of care  and  protection.  Special  training  is  also  provided  to  all  such  children  who  are  school dropouts and long absentees and they are enrolled in 'back to school' camps. Additionally, other strategies adopted under SSA such as strengthening school infrastructure, improving pupil-teacher ratios, providing incentives like free textbooks, uniforms for eligible category of children and mid-day meal in schools have proved to be useful in increasing the

enrolment of children in elementary schools.

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