Odisha: Over 400 Panchayats Lack High Schools, Over 7,000 Schools Merged or Closed in 10 Years

Bhubaneswar: In a concerning revelation, Odisha’s School & Mass Education Minister Sudam Marndi informed the Assembly that as many as 426 panchayats in the state lack high schools, depriving students of crucial secondary education.

Responding to a question raised by Narla MLA Bhupinder Singh, the minister highlighted the state’s total of 8099 high schools, emphasizing the stark contrast between the number of panchayats without high schools and the overall number of such institutions.

Further compounding the issue, Minister Marndi revealed that a staggering 7478 schools have been merged or closed in Odisha over the past decade. This alarming trend, brought to light by Rairangpur MLA Naba Charan Majhi’s question, raises serious concerns about the accessibility and quality of education in the state.

The district of Gajapati bears the brunt of this school consolidation, with a staggering 604 schools merged or closed. The minister assured that the affected teachers have been redeployed to nearby schools to minimize disruptions.