AIDSO launches signature campaign against closure of govt schools

Dharwad: The Dharwad unit of All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) launched a signature campaign in Dharwad on Tuesday against the state government's move to close down over 6,000 government schools in the state. AIDSO members collected signatures from the general public near Vivekanand Circle. District secretary of AIDSO Shashikala Meti said the govt, citing poor enrolment, has decided to close over 6,000 govt schools across the state and in Dharwad district the number schools to be closed is more than 100. She said the govt schools have been a ray of hope for the students from weak economic background and closing them will deprive the poor students of being educated. Shashikala pointed out that the condition of several govt schools is pathetic and the govt needs to focus on improving them. Over 600 schools are ‘single teacher' schools while more than 3,500 schools do not have toilet facilities. Absence of drinking water facility, dilapidated buildings and failure to fill 59,000 vacant teaching posts among others haunt the primary and secondary education in rural areas and the government is doing nothing to address these problems, she charged. She urged the state govt to withdraw its decision and provide necessary facilities to the schools to attract more children.