Jalandhar(Parteek Singh Mahal): The Punjab government is looking on back foot after the sharp protest of teachers and opposition parties on the government decision of merger of primary schools having less than 20 students. Government primary schools merger is stalled till November 30 after seeing strong protest. The education department has now sent out a communique to these 800 schools to put the decision on hold till November 30. Sources said the education department is hoping that as per a new scheme of admitting pre-primary students, unveiling from November 14, the schools facing merger may witness better strength.
The Punjab government had taken the decision to merge 800 primary schools with less than 20 students with adjoining schools situated within a kilometer of its radius. Education Department claimed that it will not violate Right to Education Act, schools will be merged within a kilometer radius so that education can be made available to the child at their own home. It will pose a crisis on the job of Education Providers and Mid Day Meal Cook.After the merger of schools crisis will come on the jobs of Education Provider, Mid -Day meal cook and workers. After more than 800 schools merger, mid-day meal cooks and workers will become unemployed. At the same time, about 1600 additional regular teachers will come to the Education Department.