## Policy Summary: Lakshadweep School Rationalization
**Issue:** This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3611 regarding the closure of certain schools in Agatti and Androth islands of Lakshadweep without prior consultation with local stakeholders. The question specifically asks whether these closures violate the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, disrupted educational services, and created difficulties for students.
**Government Response:** The Ministry of Education, responding through the Minister of State, clarifies that the Lakshadweep Administration undertook a rationalization of schools due to infrastructure constraints, school safety concerns, low enrollment, and the need for resource optimization. The primary objectives were to ensure student safety, improve the quality of education, and optimize the use of existing facilities.
**Details of Rationalization:**
* **Agatti:** JB School South, constructed in 1982 and possessing the oldest building with minimal facilities, was merged with JB School North to create PM SHRI Govt. Junior Basic School Agatti (UDISE Code: 31010100202).
* **Androth:** JB School Mechery, with 135 students, is located close to SB School Edachery, which provides dual medium instruction.
**Justification:** The Ministry asserts that stakeholder feedback was considered through institutional visits, enrollment analysis, and administrative assessments. The actions are structured consolidation for better academic and infrastructural outcomes and are compliant with the provisions of the NEP 2020, ensuring access to free and compulsory education within permissible norms. The initiatives have enhanced the learning environment by pooling infrastructure and teaching resources.
**Mitigation Measures:** Transport and proximity arrangements have been ensured for the required students for smooth transition without affecting the continuity of education. Students now benefit from safer buildings, better digital and classroom facilities, and improved supervision.
Key Entities Referenced
Lakshadweep: A Union Territory of India, where school closures are under review.
Agatti: An island in Lakshadweep, where JB School South was merged with JB School North.
Androth: An island in Lakshadweep, where JB School Mechery is located close to SB School Edachery.
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education RTE Act, 2009: Indian legislation concerning free and compulsory education for children, compliance with which is questioned in the context of school closures.
Ministry of Education: The Indian government ministry responsible for education, which provided the response to the parliamentary question.
NEP 2020: The National Education Policy 2020, compliance to which is mentioned in the context of rationalisation of schools.
SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
PM SHRI Govt. Junior Basic School Agatti: The name of the school formed after the merger of JB School South and JB School North in Agatti.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3611
ANSWERED ON-11/08/2025
School Closed in Lakshadweep
3611. Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that certain schools in Agatti and Androth islands of the
Union Territory of Lakshadweep have been closed without prior consultation with local
stakeholders including parents, teachers, and community representatives;
(b) if so, the reasons for the closure of these schools and whether such action is in violation of
the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009;
(c) whether such closure has disrupted the functioning of educational services and created
difficulties for students in accessing quality and continuous education;
(d) whether the Government proposes to review the decision and take immediate steps to
reopen the schools or provide alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted education for
the children of Agatti and Androth islands; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the timeline for such corrective measures?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): The Lakshadweep Administration, through the Department of Education, undertook
rationalisation of certain schools in Agatti and Androth islands in view of infrastructure
constraints, school safety, low enrolment, and resource optimisation. These decisions were
made with the primary objective of ensuring student safety, school building safety, improvingquality of education, and optimal use of existing facilities. Stakeholder feedback was considered
through institutional visits, enrolment analysis and administrative assessments.
The actions were structured consolidation for better academic and infrastructural outcomes. In
Agatti, the JB School (South), which was constructed in 1982 and had the oldest building with
minimum facilities, was merged with JB School (North) to form the PM SHRI Govt. Junior Basic
School Agatti (UDISE Code: 31010100202), ensuring safe building and enriched learning for
students. In Androth, JB School Mechery, with a strength of 135 students, is located close to SB
School Edachery, which provides dual medium instruction. Such rationalisation is compliant with
the provisions of the NEP 2020, as access to free and compulsory education within permissible
norms is fully ensured.
The initiatives have enhanced the learning environment by pooling infrastructure and teaching
resources. Students now benefit from safer buildings, better digital and classroom facilities, and
improved supervision. Transport and proximity arrangements have been ensured for the
required students for smooth transition without affecting the continuity of education.
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