The Sikkim government's recent announcement regarding the closure of 97 schools has sparked considerable debate in the Himalayan state. This move by Education Minister Raju Basnet's ministry involves shutting down 78 primary schools, 12 junior high schools, and 7 senior secondary schools due to insufficient student enrolment. The minister explained that students from these institutions would be integrated into nearby schools, aiming to optimise resource utilisation and improve education quality.


This move has drawn criticism, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an SKM ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP labelled the move as a shortsighted approach by the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. BJP state president DR Thapa described the decision as "alarming" and called for a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to declining enrolments in these schools.


Primary Schools The Target In Sikkim?


A significant concern is that a large portion — 80% — of the proposed closures target primary schools. This stage of education is critical for nurturing foundational skills in children, requiring not just academic instruction but also emotional support and patience from educators.


That's one of the reasons that the government’s claim of enhancing the quality of the schools doesn't hold good. The decision may ensure that there is no local public school left in the locality, forcing the students studying there to travel to schools located in other localities. This may hamper the education of the students, particularly those of the marginalised sections, who may face difficulties in travelling to schools located in other localities.

 

With primary schools being the target, this move may result in an increase in the dropout level of the students at the lower levels. Students, particularly from the marginalised sections, are likely to opt out of the education system and be forced to work low-paying jobs, where special skills aren’t required.

 

Significantly, the state has a very low dropout level at the primary level. According to the 2021-22 data of the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) maintained by the Centre, the percentage of dropouts in the primary level (Class 1 to 5) is 1.8%. But this move to close 78 primary schools may hurt the state's current low dropout rate in the long run.

Private Schools Thriving In Sikkim


While the state government is arguing that the low enrolment of students is responsible for the closure of 97 public schools, private schools seem to be doing well. According to the UDISE data, out of the total 1,259 schools, there are 395 private schools in the state — this corresponds to 31.3%. On the other hand, out of the total enrolled 1,35,963 students, 51,552 (37.91%) are enrolled in private schools.

 

This data clearly shows that the percentage of students enrolled in private schools is disproportionately higher than the number of private schools in the state. This raises questions about the efficiency of government schools and should be a worrying sign for the Prem Singh Tamang administration.

 

What is more concerning is that the cost of education in private schools is higher than that in public schools. Economically poor students, with many from the marginalised sections, can’t afford this high cost of education. Government schools provide free education, along with free textbooks, uniforms and mid-day meals, till the primary level, making it accessible to the students belonging to the economically weaker sections. For them, government schools are the last option for education.

Need To Re-Evaluate Decision


It would be prudent for the Sikkim government to reconsider its decision to close these schools after the current semester. A thorough investigation into the reasons behind declining enrollments is essential to address underlying issues rather than resorting to closures.


Education serves as a cornerstone for societal advancement, and it is imperative that all segments of society — not just those from affluent backgrounds — have access to quality education. Therefore, enhancing teaching standards and improving infrastructure in government schools should take precedence over closures.


Essential facilities, such as clean drinking water, libraries, and adequate restroom facilities must be prioritised to create an environment conducive to learning. The decision to close government schools cannot be a solution to low enrolment and should only be the last resort.


The author is a political commentator.


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