AIDSO stages protest against move to close government schools

Expressing its opposition to the closure of government schools under the guise of consolidation, the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in Alaganchi village in Nanjangud taluk on Monday.

Nithin, district secretary of AIDSO, said that the State government is proceeding with the closure of more than 6,000 government schools.

“To oppose this, the AIDSO has launched a Statewide signature campaign. The government claims that schools with low enrolment will be consolidated under the ‘Hub and Spoke’ model. This means that instead of finding reasons for low enrolment and taking appropriate measures to promote admissions in government schools, the government is betraying the common people of the State by closing down the schools,” said Mr. Nithin.

The AIDSO alleged that there are over 59,000 vacancies for teachers in government schools. Besides, the infrastructure of the existing schools were crumbling, he said, pointing out that out of 46,000 government schools in the State, 21,000 school buildings were leaking, and many are on the verge of collapse.

In addition, there were more than 3,500 schools without usable toilets, and thousands of schools did not have access to clean drinking water, according to the AIDSO.

It said the government, instead of fulfilling its responsibility, is blaming parents for not enrolling their children in schools, which is condemnable.

The AIDSO said this was a conspiracy to gradually eliminate government schools under the pretext of low student numbers and completely privatise education. Mr. Nithin accused the government of implementing anti-people policy, while claiming to be pro-poor.

The AIDSO demanded that the government immediately change its stance and strengthen government schools, fill all vacant teacher positions, provide basic infrastructure to government schools across the State, and allocate more funds to the education sector.