Rajasthan Merges 400 Govt Schools, Sparking Concerns Over Long Distances And Dropouts

The Rajasthan government has decided to merge over 400 government schools with nearby higher secondary schools due to low enrollment and other issues. This decision has forced students like 9-year-old Nuram in Jaipur to travel 2 kilometers to the new school, raising safety concerns among parents. In Ajmer, the closure of Urdu medium schools has left students struggling to adapt to a new medium of instruction. Critics, including Arvind Kejriwal, accuse the government of neglecting education by shutting down schools, potentially increasing dropout rates, especially among girls.