Facing criticism from Opposition parties for his government’s decision to close some State-run primary schools, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday accused theOpposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), of misguiding the public.
“The fact was that the government had merely decided to merge 800 government schools with less than 20 students with adjoining schools situated within a one kilometre radius,” he said.
Punjab’s Education Department had announced the decision to merge the schools on Saturday. The department maintained that the merger would be in the interest of both students and teachers as it would lead to a better educational atmosphere in the schools.
Criticising the move, AAP’s co-State president Aman Arora said that if less than 20 students attended some schools it was not the fault of parents or wards and instead, “the responsibility of successive governments who have failed to provide proper infrastructure and the policies suitable for the success of the primary schools.”