**Policy Summary: Merger of Schools in Uttar Pradesh under National Education Policy 2020**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Education's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 153, answered on July 21, 2025, regarding the merger of schools with low enrollment (less than 50 students) in Uttar Pradesh.
The State Government of Uttar Pradesh, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has initiated a "Pairing of Schools" initiative (Government Order dated June 16, 2025) to optimize resource utilization and enhance educational quality. Schools with low enrollment are being paired with nearby designated schools that offer better infrastructure and a more enriched academic environment. This aims to improve peer learning, age-appropriate teaching, and the development of 21st-century skills.
The pairing process prioritizes safe and feasible relocation distances, considering infrastructure, accessibility, enrollment, inclusion, and local context.
Closed school buildings are being repurposed into Balvatika centers, supporting the NEP 2020's focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children aged 3-5 years. Where possible, these centers are co-located with existing schools or Anganwadi centers. District authorities are overseeing the phased conversion and integration of these centers.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy 2020: A national policy framework by the Government of India to revamp the education system.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where the school merger scheme is being implemented.
Ministry of Education: The government ministry responsible for education in India.
Pairing of School initiative: An initiative by the Government of Uttar Pradesh to pair schools with low enrolment with nearby schools.
Constitution: The legal framework within which education falls under the concurrent list, shared between the Union and State governments.
Balvatika centres: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centers being created in the buildings of closed schools.
Early Childhood Care and Education ECCE: Policy emphasis on foundational learning environments for children aged 3-5 years.
Anganwadi centres: Rural child care centres in India, sometimes co-located with Balvatika centres.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 153
ANSWERED ON- 21.07.2025
Merger of Schools
†153 Smt. Krishna Devi Shivshankar Patel:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the alternative arrangements being made to accomodate the students of the schools that
are being closed under the merger scheme of schools that have less than 50 enrolled students
in Uttar Pradesh;
(b) whether there is any arrangement for the safe transportation of students accomodated in
schools that are situated far away;
(c) whether the Government has any plans to utilise the buildings of closed schools after the
merger of the said schools, if so, the details of their usage; and
(d) the aim and requirement of the Government to merge these schools?
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 majority of the schools
come under the purview of the respective State Government/UT Administration. The opening
and closing of schools are within the purview of respective State Government and UT
Administration.
As informed by the State of Uttar Pradesh, under the National Education Policy 2020,
the Government of Uttar Pradesh has initiated a Pairing of School initiative as per
Government order dated 16 June 2025 to ensure optimal utilisation of resources and to
enhance the quality of education. Schools with low enrolment are being paired with nearby
designated schools that offer improved infrastructure, and a more enriched learning and
engaging academic environment. This approach facilitates access to peer learning, age-
appropriate pedagogy, and the development of 21st-century skills. The pairing process is
carefully mapped to ensure that children are relocated within a safe and feasible distance.Priority is given to pairing schools with the nearest schools, taking into account factors such
as infrastructure, accessibility, enrolment, inclusion, and the local context. The Government
Order outlines the procedure for school pairing to ensure optimal utilisation of resources and
to enhance the quality of education for students.
A focused effort is underway to repurpose these spaces, in alignment with the new
pedagogical structure of the NEP 2020 (5+3+3+4), into Balvatika centres. This initiative
supports the policy's emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), providing
foundational learning environments for children aged 3-5 years.
Where feasible, these centres are co-located with existing schools or Anganwadi
centres to ensure continuity into formal education. District authorities are supervising the
phased conversion and integration of these centres across the state.
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