Students and parents protested at the Shahapur panchayat samiti on Wednesday against the proposed closure or merger of government schools, demanding basic facilities, teacher appointments and safe school buildings. The demonstration was led by the Students’ Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India.
The protesters alleged that several government schools in the area are operating without adequate teachers and that some school buildings are in a dangerous condition. They also raised concerns over the absence of drinking water and toilets in school buildings, according to a report by Loksatta – Thane.
The agitation focused on what the organisations described as a policy of closing or merging schools because of low student enrolment. The protesters argued that reducing enrolment should not be treated as sufficient grounds to shut or combine schools without examining why students are leaving government institutions.
The organisations said that the lack of basic infrastructure, regular teacher appointments and a safe learning environment could itself be contributing to declining enrolment. They demanded that the administration assess each school independently before taking any decision on closure or merger.
The protesters also called for measures to improve the quality of education and provide students with essential facilities. Their demands included regular appointments of teachers, repairs or improvement of unsafe school buildings, drinking-water and sanitation facilities, nutritious meals, and special financial support for schools serving tribal and remote areas.
The issue places school access alongside the condition of public infrastructure in Shahapur. For students in remote settlements, the closure or merger of a nearby school could affect the distance they travel to attend classes. However, the report did not provide details of the number of schools facing closure or merger, the number of students affected, or any approved administrative timetable.
The protesters maintained that enrolment could improve if government schools offered reliable teaching, necessary amenities and a secure environment. They asked the administration to immediately halt the closure or merger process and reconsider the status of every school separately. The report did not include a response from the Shahapur panchayat samiti or the education department to the demands.
