Sule flays govt’s decision to close down ZP schools
TIMES NEWS NETWORKPune:
Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Monday said the NCP would intensify its protest against the state government’s “arbitrary decision” of closing down Zilla Parishad schools, which have fewer students, in remote areas.
“The government has arrived at a figure that in the first phase, 1,300 schools must be closed. We have been asking how has it arrived at the figure? Whose report was it and who were the people involved? Instead of replying to relevant questions, education minister Vinod Tawde is calling us names. We have facts and figures which prove that some schools were closed despite there being no another school within a distance of 1km,” said Sule while addressing a news conference here.
In the Budget session of the legislature, Tawde had said 5,600 schools have less than 10 students. In 1,312 cases, there are other schools within a distance of 1km . Out of this, 568 schools have been merged, transport facility has been provided for students in 541 schools. In 383 schools, the headmaster and extension officer haven’t raised any issues regarding closure.
Sule also mentioned about the ‘Long Road to Education’ series in TOIwhich highlighted the problems the students would face if the schools are closed.
Sule also gave examples of schools under Pune district that were closed despite the nearest school being more than 2km away. “Schools in Pawarvasti (Indapur), Bagalphata, Velhavale(Khed), Shastabad (Shirur) and Bhillavasti were closed down or merged but the nearest schools in these villages are 2km, 2.5km, 2.8km, 1.7km and 1.9 km, respectively, away. Does the government expect students to walk for almost 6km to school?” Sule asked.
Reacting to Sule’s comments, Tawde, via social media, said, “In Baramati’s tuitions, ‘dada’ and ‘tai’ teach how to get water from illegal dams. I don’t want Pawar school, our SSC board is good. We teach being true and genuine.”
