Shutting Down Schools in Odisha

In Odisha, over 80% of the children are receiving poor quality education, which needs more attention for the reduction of poverty, level of inequality, child marriage, etc, and to stimulate the economic performance of Odisha in the long term.

On 18 November 2020, School and Mass Education Minister of Odisha Samir Ranjan Dash divulged the state government’s decision to shut over 14,000 schools across the state permanently from the next academic session. The schools whose strength is below 20 students and below 40 students in coastal areas, would close permanently. This is because it is challenging to impart quality education to the students and unfair to teach 18 to 20 students in one classroom from Classes 1 to 4. The Government of Odisha’s decision is based on reports of district collectors, the minister said. The intention to provide quality education is welcome, but the implementation of the above
decision needs much caution.