CM Ashok Gehlot to reopen 3,717 schools that were shut by Raje govt

The Ashok Gehlot government is going to reopen 3,717 schools that were shut down by previous Raje government in the name of rationalisation. Nearly 22,000 schools were shut down by the then government.

“Our government has started reviewing closure of 22,000 schools. In first phase 3,717 schools are being reopened. In next phase, the schools will be reopened on the need basis,” tweeted education minister (independent charge) Govind Singh Dotasara.

The Congress government has started the exercise to reopen the schools closed by the previous government. In the first phase, 3717 primary and upper primary schools of the state will be reopened under RTE rules. For this, the education ministry has already sought a report from the Director of Primary Education. The sources said that the government is preparing to reopen some schools before the Lok Sabha elections.

The Raje government had closed more than 22,000 schools with less enrolment in five years. . The schools were not “closed” but “merged” into nearby “Adarsh” schools in what is called school rationalisation; however the manner in which this exercise has been done has pushed many students into private schools. During assembly election campaign, the Congress made it a poll issue and announced that it would reopen all schools.

Under the Right to Education Act, it is necessary to have primary school in two kilometres distance. The director of the elementary education department has asked all the district education officers to list the schools that are merged against this rule.  

First Phase

The Congress government has started the exercise to reopen the schools closed by the previous government. In the first phase, 3717 primary and upper primary schools of the state will be reopened under RTE rules.