100 schools with zero enrolment denotified, 120 merged

The state government has denotified 100 primary and middle schools with zero enrolment. Besides, 120 primary schools, having five or less than five students, have been merged with nearby primary schools. The decision to denotify and merge these schools has been taken on the basis of the proposal sent by the Directorate of School Education to the government.

Among those denotified, 72 are primary schools while 28 are middle schools. The maximum number of 13 primary schools have been denotified in Mandi district, followed by Shimla (12) and Kangra (11). As for middle schools, the maximum number of 14 schools have been denotified in Shimla district.

Out of the 120 merged primary schools, 52 fall in Kangra district, and 25 in Mandi district. The Directorate had recommended the merger of over 400 schools on the basis of feedback from deputy directors posted in the districts.

As per a senior official, other schools recommended by the directorate for merger are under consideration. Besides, schools in tribal areas and in difficult terrains having nullahs or steep ascent have not been merged.