Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to merge government primary schools with low enrolment has triggered widespread protests from teacher associations across the state. On Monday, educators stepped up their opposition by submitting memorandums to local MLAs and district authorities, demanding the plan be scrapped and urging that their concerns be conveyed directly to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Representatives from districts including Lucknow and Bareilly submitted written appeals warning that the move would deepen educational inequality and increase dropout rates, especially among girls. They argued that instead of closing schools, the government should send more resources and teachers to under-enrolled institutions.
United Teachers Association (UTA) president Rajendra Singh Rathore chaired an online meeting of the state executive, during which the group announced a phased protest campaign. As part of the first phase, teachers from all districts will submit memorandums between June 23 and 29 to MLAs and District Magistrates, addressed to the Chief Minister.
In Bareilly, UTA district president Bhanu Pratap Singh handed over the memorandum to City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri.
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In Lucknow, under the leadership of Sushil Kumar Pandey, president of the UP Primary Teachers Association, teachers submitted petitions to MLAs Amresh Rawat (Mohanlalganj) and Yogesh Shukla (Bakshi Ka Talab).
Protesting educators Brijesh Kumar Maurya, Mohammad Riaz, Hari Shankar Rathore, and Bhim Singh have warned that school mergers under the BJP led state government are harming rural education and disproportionately affecting marginalised communities.
