JAGATSINGHPUR: AS many as 17 primary schools of Jagatsinghpur district will be closed this year for enrolling less than 10 students. These students will be shifted to primary schools nearby that have more enrolment, as per a decision of the School and Mass Education Department.
Last year, 30 such schools were closed due to shortage of students.
Enrolment of students in Government-run primary schools declined from 80,304 in 2015-16 to 77,487 in 2016-17 with the authorities blaming English medium schools. There are 1,338 government schools in the district.
Even as primary school teachers are counselling parents to send their children to Government schools, the response has been lukewarm. After a recent directive by the department, the teachers have started door to door campaign about facilities being provided in Government schools for students.
District Project Coordinator of Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan, Sapan Kumar Jena said the School and Mass Education Department has now directed to identify schools having less than 15 students.