The Odisha government has recently assigned about 8,000 schools across 15 districts to be amalgamated with other neighboring institutions due to low enrollment. The consolidation initiative is part of the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E) project.
The SATH-E Project
The gist of the Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) project lies in its focus on two primary sectors, namely education and health. Its goal is to craft three ‘Role Model’ States, with Odisha being one of them. The project, launched in 2017, included Odisha along with two other states, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
SATH-E aspires to partner with the educational system, positioning the student and the teacher as its nucleus. Its goal is to metamorphose elementary and secondary school education through a goal-oriented approach, thereby creating exemplar states for education. This initiative hit its end mark at the completion of the academic year 2020.
Several crucial measures such as school mergers, remediation programs, training, monitoring teacher recruitment, institutional reorganization at the district and state levels, and adequate employment of the Management Information System (MIS) have been under execution since January 2018.
Benefits of School Mergers
Advocates argue that mergers not only consolidate resources like teachers, libraries, laboratories, and play equipment but also improve the overall quality of education. Furthermore, the MIS can significantly assist school managers in setting objectives, strategizing plans, distributing resources, and evaluating both staff and organizational performance.
Monitoring of the project’s progress occurs via a National Steering Group (NSG), Central Project Monitoring Unit (CPMU) at the national level, and State Project Monitoring Unit (SPMU) at the state level.
Concerns Regarding the Merger
On the flip side, critics argue that the merging or closure of schools infringes upon sections 3 and 8 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. According to these, every child aged six to fourteen has the right to free, obligatory education in a local school until they complete their elementary education.
Furthermore, the majority of these schools are located in tribal belts on hilly terrains. Critics fear that closing down schools in such areas could spike the dropout rate as commuting long distances for education may not be feasible for many students. Parents also worry about their children missing out on midday meals if they fail to attend school.
State Government’s Response
Addressing these concerns, the state government has promised to provide students who need to travel far for school a daily allowance of Rs. 20. It will also provide a one-time facilitation allowance of Rs 3,000 to students from schools facing closure. Moreover, if the distance to the new school exceeds 1 km, the government will provide a travel allowance following RTE norms. The district collectors have also been authorized to cancel the merger if any genuine concerns arise.
The Way Forward
The government expects this merger to make schools more aspirational for students, improve the Pupil-Teacher Ratio, enhance infrastructure facilities, and create an improved academic environment equipped with additional e-Learning and co-curricular facilities. Nevertheless, geographical constraints and other possible hindrances ought to be taken into account before closing or merging schools. Clear lines of communication, a rigorous grievance redressal system, and comprehensive counseling should enable this entire process.