NEW DELHI: As the Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh intensified his party’s campaign to protect government schools from widespread closure in Uttar Pradesh.
Singh submitted a notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, demanding an urgent debate on the Yogi Adityanath government’s decision to shut down and merge thousands of schools, calling the move a direct attack on the constitutional right to education.
“The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is snatching away education from children of Dalit, Adivasi, and backward communities,” Sanjay Singh stated, warning that if Parliament fails to act, AAP will take its protest from “the streets to the House.”
Massive School Closures Across India, Alarming Numbers in UP
Citing national data, Singh highlighted that over 90,000 government schools have already been closed across India. In Uttar Pradesh alone, 10,827 schools have been merged, nearly 25,000 shut down, and now 5,000 more are under orders for closure. These actions, he said, are being carried out without community consultation and are forcing students—mostly from poor and marginalised backgrounds—to walk long distances to reach school, or to drop out entirely.
“This is not reform. This is educational exclusion,” he said.
Violation of Constitutional Rights
In his letter to the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha, Singh argued that these school closures violate both Article 21A of the Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Education, and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. He stressed that true educational reform must focus on expanding access, not limiting it.
He warned that shutting schools is not just a state issue but a national crisis that threatens the foundation of inclusive and equitable education. “This cannot be seen as an administrative measure. It has direct consequences for millions of children, particularly those from vulnerable communities.”
Infrastructure Collapse & Teacher Shortages
Singh further revealed that the crisis is worsened by massive teacher shortages. In Uttar Pradesh’s primary schools alone, over 1.93 lakh teaching posts remain vacant. In many rural districts, single teachers are managing entire schools.
“How can quality education be delivered with one teacher for all subjects and grades? This is a complete betrayal of the promise of education enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
Demand for Immediate Action in Rajya Sabha
Calling on the Rajya Sabha Chairman to suspend all other business under Rule 267, Sanjay Singh urged Parliament to urgently address this “grave and pressing issue.” He asserted that AAP’s campaign to protect education will continue both inside Parliament and on the streets until the closures are halted and a serious policy review is undertaken.
“The government talks about digital platforms and a 21st-century curriculum, but what use is any of that if schools are being shut down? If you want a future-ready education system, you can’t start by eliminating schools,” Singh concluded.
