Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a heated session at the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Lucknow on August 14, firmly dismissed the opposition’s allegations of 29,000 schools closure across the state. Addressing the concerns raised by opposition members, CM Yogi asserted that no schools are being shut down; instead, the education system has been significantly strengthened and modernized under his administration. He emphasized that the focus is on integrating smaller schools into larger, better-equipped campuses to enhance the quality of education and ensure optimal resource utilization by schools merger. This response comes amid growing debates on Uttar Pradesh’s education policies, where the opposition has accused the government of undermining access to schooling, particularly in rural areas. However, CM Yogi countered these claims by providing detailed insights into the ongoing reforms, underscoring the government’s commitment to inclusive and high-quality education for all children in the state.
The core issue revolves around the opposition’s charge that the Yogi Adityanath-led government is systematically closing down thousands of schools, potentially depriving lakhs of students of educational opportunities. Specifically, the opposition highlighted the figure of 29,000 schools allegedly slated for closure, painting a picture of a deteriorating education landscape in Uttar Pradesh. In his rebuttal, CM Yogi clarified that these are not closures but strategic integrations. He explained that the schools in question are those with fewer than 50 students and located within a 1-kilometer radius of each other. These institutions are being paired with larger, more advanced campuses to maintain an ideal student-teacher ratio of 22:1, which he argued would significantly improve educational outcomes. This approach, according to the Chief Minister, addresses long-standing inefficiencies in the system, ensuring that students benefit from consolidated resources rather than scattered, underutilized facilities. By reframing the narrative from closure to consolidation, CM Yogi aimed to dispel fears of reduced access, insisting that the move is designed to elevate the overall standard of basic education in the state.
Prior to 2017, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in Uttar Pradesh, the state’s 1,56,000 basic and affiliated schools were in a dire condition, as outlined by CM Yogi. He painted a grim picture of unbalanced student-teacher ratios, inadequate infrastructure, and the highest dropout rates in the country. These challenges, he noted, contributed to widespread educational disparities, particularly affecting children from marginalized communities. To tackle this, the government launched initiatives like the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ in July 2017 and ‘Operation Kayakalp’, which encouraged every legislator, administrative officer, villager, and alumnus to adopt a school. The results have been transformative, with schools now equipped with essential amenities such as tiled floors, separate toilets for boys and girls, drinking water facilities, electricity, solar panels, digital libraries, smart classrooms, playgrounds, and improved seating arrangements. Additionally, students receive free provisions including two sets of uniforms, school bags, textbooks, shoes, and socks, making education more accessible and appealing to families from economically weaker sections.
Key Education Reforms
Building on these foundational changes, CM Yogi announced further enhancements to the education framework. For the schools that remain operational post-integration, the government plans to introduce ‘Balvatika’ and pre-primary classes catering to children aged 3-6 years, including Lower Kindergarten (LKG), Upper Kindergarten (UKG), and Nursery levels. This early childhood education initiative aims to lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Complementing this, the ‘CM Poshan Mission’ has been allocated a special package of Rs 100 crore to provide nutritious meals to children suffering from malnutrition and anemia, addressing health barriers to education. Since 2017, these efforts have led to a substantial decline in dropout rates, with an additional 40 lakh children enrolling in schools. The ‘Project Alankar’ is another flagship program focused on renovating inter-colleges over 75 years old, incorporating new laboratories, smart classrooms, and improved drinking water systems to modernize higher secondary education.
The reforms extend beyond basic schooling into vocational and higher education sectors. In 150 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), courses in cutting-edge fields like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Space Technology have been introduced to align skills with emerging job markets. The state has established 71 new government colleges and several universities, expanding access to tertiary education. To bridge the digital divide, over 50 lakh youths have been provided with tablets and smartphones, enabling them to engage with online learning resources. These measures reflect a holistic approach to education reform, prioritizing both infrastructure and curriculum innovation to prepare Uttar Pradesh’s youth for a competitive global economy.
Youth Empowerment Initiatives
Shifting focus to employment, CM Yogi highlighted the stark contrast between pre-2017 practices and the current transparent system. He pointed out that earlier recruitment processes were marred by irregularities and favoritism, leading to widespread discontent. Under his tenure, 8.5 lakh young individuals have been recruited into government jobs, including 1.75 lakh women, marking a significant push towards gender inclusivity. The female labor force participation rate has surged from 13.5% to 35%, while the unemployment rate has plummeted from 19% to just 3%. The ‘CM Yuva’ scheme has introduced mandatory training and screening for aspirants, ensuring merit-based opportunities. As a result, more than 1.65 crore youths have secured employment across various sectors, fostering economic independence and growth.
Entrepreneurship has also been a key pillar of the government’s strategy. Today, Uttar Pradesh boasts over 7,200 active startups and 50 incubators, creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and job creation. In a recent drive, 62,200 police personnel were recruited, with representation from every district and assembly constituency, bolstering law enforcement while providing stable jobs to local youth. Police training capacity has been expanded from 3,000 to 60,000 annually, modernizing the force’s capabilities.
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