Stop the 'sin' of closing down 14K schools for poor, Congress tells Maha CM Shinde

Mumbai: The Congress' Maharashtra unit on Thursday called upon Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to stop the "sinful" move of shutting down some 14,000 schools ostensibly due to low enrolment of students.

State Congress President Nana Patole said that a majority of these targeted schools are situated in rural, remote, backward, or tribal belts of the state where there are no other educational options available for the poor children.

"They are children of farmers, labourers, ordinary families who sent their children to acquire education at these schools run by the districts. If these schools are closed, then these people from the poor strata shall be totally deprived of educationa It will be like a sin," he told Shinde.

Patole pointed out how Maharashtra is at the forefront in providing quality education at the highest levels, and where primary education forms the foundation of a good academic background for lakhs of students.

"In 2009, the Right To Education Act was passed by the Congress government at the Centre, which provides for free and compulsory education to every child aged 6-14, with admission to the nearest school. The 25 per cent reservations for economically weaker sections in private educational institutions is also applicable under the Act. The State government is duty-bound to ensure that all children get proper education," he said.

Referring to a purported move to shut down around 14,000 schools where the enrollment/attendance figures range from 0-20, the Congress leader said this would totally deprive children in rural, tribal and backward areas of education, and they would be compelled to travel far for attending school.

Hailing the state's glorious legacy, he said many social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and others had thrown open the doors of schools for the 'Bahujan community' in every village.

"The Congress has taken the message to spread education in the remotest areasa On the contrary, the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat is closing down 6,000 schools and now plans to shut down 14,000 schools in Maharashtra. This will rob the Bahujans of the opportunity to get educated and progress in life," Patole cautioned.