Jitendra Choudhury, Tripura’s CPIM MLA and Leader of the Opposition, has raised concerns about the state government’s proposed closure of 160 schools in West Tripura District. In a detailed letter addressed to Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Choudhury stressed the critical importance of education and cautioned against the negative impact such closures could have on the state’s educational landscape.
Choudhury highlighted that the government is considering closing these schools due to low enrollment numbers, as indicated by the District Education Officer. He also pointed out that similar actions are being contemplated in the state’s other seven districts. Choudhury recalled previous attempts to close 961 schools, primarily in TTAADC areas, during the earlier administration led by Dr. Saha, citing similar justifications.
Invoking the legacy of Tripura’s democratic movement, rooted in the Janasiksha Andolan (People’s Education Movement), Choudhury emphasized that the state had achieved remarkable literacy rates, with 100% enrollment and minimal dropouts, largely due to the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009, which advocated for “Education for All.” He urged the government to prioritize the goal of providing education to every child, as mandated by the RTE Act, rather than closing existing schools due to low enrollment. He warned that shutting down schools would impede the state’s progress and jeopardize the future of its children.
In his letter, Choudhury also addressed broader education-related concerns. He noted that sporadic teacher recruitment over the past six years, coupled with the episode involving 10,323 teachers and numerous retirements, has left many vacancies in the Education Department. To address this, Choudhury recommended initiating a special drive to promptly fill these positions.
Regarding the Vidyajyoti Scheme, Choudhury criticized it for causing frustration among students and stakeholders. He advocated for scrapping the initiative in favor of providing equal opportunities to all schools, regardless of their urban or rural status. Additionally, Choudhury expressed concern about the proliferation of private educational institutions, viewing it as unfavorable for a progressive society. He urged the government to revitalize educational programs by ensuring proper infrastructure, adequate staffing, updated scientific curricula, and effective management in public schools.
