Amid unrelenting demands from residents, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to reopen 260 public schools in four districts of the Maoist-hit Bastar region, which were closed 15 years ago for various reasons, including Naxal violence.
According to an official, CM Bhupesh Baghel would make an official announcement of the reopening of these schools on June 16, when the state government would start organizing ‘Shala Pravesh Utsav’ (school admission fest).
The schools in Sukma, Narayanpur, Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh will be opened.
“These schools were closed because of one problem or the other related to Maoism. We are now planning to reopen them as the government has been able to deal with the Maoist problem in these areas. Teachers have been posted to these schools. The exact number of students can only be ascertained only after schools reopen, but it will be between 20 and 50 students in one school,” said Alok Shukla, Chhattisgarh’s education secretary.
The collectors of these districts have been asked to ensure admission to the full extent and regular attendance of children in primary and pre-primary classes. The officials have also been directed to ensure the appointment of teachers when these schools reopen, the officials added.