The difference between a good policy and a bad one lies in its implementation and its intent.

On June 16, Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department initiated the “merger” or “pairing” of over 10,000 government primary and upper primary schools, citing low enrolment. Any school with fewer than 50 students was marked for closure or pairing.

Primary education in the state is already in crisis – low enrolment, crumbling infrastructure despite recent renovations, and overburdened teachers. The merger was pitched as a solution. Instead, it has triggered protests across UP, with parents, teachers, and activists warning that the move will deprive marginalised children of education and push many out of school altogether.

After demonstrations in rural districts, the government clarified that no school located more than one kilometre away would be merged, and ordered the reversal of such pairings. But with hundreds of students still stranded – unable or unwilling to go to their new schools – Newslaundry travelled to Sitapur and Raebareli to see the fallout on the ground.

Sitapur: Students take the govt to court

On July 25, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court ordered a status quo on mergers in Sitapur after noticing irregularities. The petition had come from students of Ghurehta village in Mahmudabad tehsil, whose school was merged with another 1.3 kilometres away.

“The children have been sitting at home (since July 1),” the parents said. Speaking to Newslaundry, another parent, Avdesh, said, “The road fills up with water. Only if there is no rain there is a road to go…We have just been waiting for the court to reverse this order.”

The court will next hear the matter on August 21. Until then, the students wait at home. 

Raebareli: ‘They are destroying education infra’

Biren Singh, a government teacher in Rasehta, Raebareli, lambasted the move and stated that the government’s plan to use “shut” schools for Balvatikas (pre-primary centres) will not work either. “Their elder brothers and sisters are coming to me for education.” 

Pointing to “hastiness”, Singh said the Basic Shiksha Adhikaris are “destroying our education infrastructure”.

While the government has reversed many mergers, Singh said, “When the shut schools are reopened, I bet you all the students will not return.”

‘Girls will be the first to drop out’

Richa Singh, an activist from Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, Sitapur, pointed out the irony of the order. “I’ve heard schools in Delhi charge more when they have less students and are considered exclusive.”

Singh and members from her organisation visited 95 villages where schools were being shut down. “If this process is not taken back and travelling distances to schools increase, then girls will be the first ones to be pushed out…I believe a school should be provided even if there are just five students. This is not a business, not an investment, but the first step to prepare citizens for this country.”

“In reality, our government and companies want cheap labour. They don’t want the poor to be educated. Such discussions are a part of people in our villages. Shall we start believing this?”

For now, teachers, parents, and children are pinning their hopes on the court’s intervention. But until the government completely rolls back the merger policy, thousands of children across Uttar Pradesh remain locked out of their classrooms.

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