The Government of Punjab shut down 159 primary schools in the state having strength of less than 11 members. In a  bid to cut down outflow on Salary of teachers, Afternoon Meals, electricity bills and maintenance charges, the Government has took the decision to close primary schools.

In order to follow the instructions gave by Government, the director public instructions (DPI-elementary education) had asked all the district education officers (DEOs) that school which have strength of below 10 merge with primary schools located within the distance of one kilometer.

The official announcement was made by the authorities recently. As per officials’ records, 27 schools have been merged in Gurdaspur, 22 in Nawanshahr and Moga, 11 each in Kupurthala and Fatehgarh Sahib, 8 in Mohali, 7 in Hoshiarpur, 6 in Ferozepur, 5 in Patiala and 3 each in Faridkot and Ludhiana.

No schools have been merged in districts like Bathinda, Baranala, Fazilka, Mansa, Mukatsar and Sangrur. Many schools were not merged since there were no alternative schools within the distance of 1 KM to transfer students.

The teachers and other staff shifted to other schools. Some senior officials told that shifting nd merging of schools and staff will not only help in giving financial relief but also usefu for schools those have not enough teachers. Shifting the teachers will automatically fill the vacancies.

However DPI Harbans Singh said, “Merging of schools were done on temporary basis only. If these schools gain more than 11 students for upcoming session, then automatically t will be opened again”.