Parliament Question: Closure of Primary Schools due to Low Student Enrollment

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 209 ANSWERED ON- 20/07/2026 CLOSURE OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS DUE TO LOW STUDENT ENROLLMENT †209. Shri Virendra Singh: Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is of the view that the decision to close certain primary schools on the basis of "low student enrollment" does not constitute a violation of the right to education of children residing in remote, poor, tribal and backward areas in the Country, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is aware that a decline in the literacy rate and school attendance of girl children has been recorded in several villages following the closure of schools and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any socio-economic survey has been conducted in the areas where schools have been closed to assess which sections of society have been most adversely affected by the deprivation of education; and (d) whether the Government is likely to ensure that before closing any school, a decision is taken only after conducting a proper study of the geographical, social, caste and economic conditions of that area, if so, the details of such a procedure? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY) (a) to (d): Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and the opening, merger/closing of schools is within the purview of respective State Government and UT Administration-which are the appropriate Government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. As per UDISE +, Enrolment of girls (pre-primary to higher secondary) in the year 2024-25 and 2025-26 is 11,93,34,162 and 11,96,30,456, respectively, which reflects that participation of girl students has increased during the period. The National Education Policy 2020 underscores that although consolidation of schools is an option that is often discussed, it must be carried out very judiciously, and only when it is ensured that there is no impact on access (Para 7.4). The aim of the school complex/cluster is to ensure greater resource efficiency and more effective functioning, coordination, leadership, governance, and management of schools in the cluster. *****