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Time of India

NSUI protests merger of schools with few students

Lucknow: Members of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the Uttar Pradesh govt's decision to merge primary and upper primary govt schools with fewer than 50 students. Calling it an 'authoritarian move,' scores of NSUI workers attempted to gherao the Vidhan Sabha. "The move is expected to lead to the closure of over 27,000 schools across the state. This will result in an increase in school dropouts, particularly among girls," said NSUI central zone president, Anas Rahman, who led the protest along with NSUI eastern zone president Rishabh Pandey. Police personnel deployed at the site attempted to stop the demonstrators. When the agitated students broke through the barricades, a scuffle and heated exchange ensued between NSUI activists and the police. Anas said that in welfare states, the govt's responsibility is to ensure quality education for all children. "Previous govts worked with this vision, and the Congress govt even made education a fundamental right through the 86th Amendment to the Constitution. However, the current BJP govt wants to deprive rural students of education so that they cannot raise their voices against its policies," he said. Rishabh Pandey accused the Yogi govt of favouring private schools over government-run institutions. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!