Srinagar, Sep 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that no primary school has been merged or clubbed with another school across the Union Territory during the last three years, while one government primary school in Hiranagar was closed during the period due to zero enrolment.
The details were provided in response to an Unstarred Question raised by MLA Vijay Kumar of Hiranagar in the Legislative Assembly regarding the clubbing or merger of government schools.
As per the reply, 3,997 schools were merged or clubbed during 2022-23, while no primary school has been clubbed or merged during the last three years in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government further that Primary School Nalla Thanger in Zone Sallan was closed during the period because it had zero enrolment. It, however, clarified that no child had been deprived of the right to free and compulsory education because of the closure.
On the issue of access to education for children from economically weaker sections, the government said that under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, private schools are required to reserve 25 per cent of entry-level seats for children belonging to economically weaker and disadvantaged sections.
The government also said that education in government schools is provided free of cost to children aged 6–14 years, along with facilities such as free textbooks, uniforms and mid-day meals, besides other entitlements under the RTE Act.
Regarding the reopening of schools that have been merged or closed, the government said that opening or reopening of primary schools is considered on the basis of prescribed population, enrolment, distance from existing schools, availability of infrastructure and manpower, as well as the requirements of the local area.
It added that proposals for opening or reopening schools would be examined and processed in accordance with prescribed norms and the availability of resources.
