Forty government schools in Pauri district of Uttarakhand have been closed after no students enrolled in them during the new academic session. The affected schools include 32 primary institutions and 8 upper-primary institutions across the district’s development blocks.

The closures reflect the continuing decline in student numbers in several rural parts of Pauri. The education department said the action is being taken on the basis of 0 enrolment alone.

Enrolment figures and block-wise impact

Pauri has 1,297 primary schools, of which 32 recorded no student enrolment this academic session. Among 231 upper-primary schools, 8 reported 0 students.

Biron Khal recorded the highest number of closed primary schools, with 5 institutions affected. Pauri and Yamkeshwar each lost 4 primary schools. Ekeshwar, Dwarikhal, Kot, Kaljikhal, Thalisain, Pabau, Pokhra and Dugadda each recorded 2 primary-school closures.

one primary school each closed in Khirsu, Jaiharikhal and Nainidanda. At the upper-primary level, one school each was closed in Ekeshwar, Yamkeshwar, Kaljikhal, Rikhanikhal, Thalisain, Pabau, Pauri and Jaiharikhal.

The named affected schools are:

  • Ekeshwar: Primary School Diyuld, Primary School Pusoli and Upper-Primary School Chaudkhal.
  • Yamkeshwar: Primary School Palelgaon, Primary School Paiyan, Primary School Umra, Primary School Nand and Upper-Primary School Chopra Kasyali.
  • Dwarikhal: Primary School Ghandalu and Primary School Kheda.
  • Biron Khal: Primary School Tankila, Primary School Gadkhark, Ratkot, Sunderkhal and Choundi.
  • Kot: Primary School Sainj and Primary School Kandola.
  • Kaljikhal: Primary School Boonga-2, Primary School Balod and Upper-Primary School Palai.
  • Khirsu: Primary School Musoli.
  • Thalisain: Primary School Kharkasari, Primary School Kuwakhark and Upper-Primary School Kandai.
  • Rikhanikhal: Upper-Primary School Meldhar.
  • Pabau: Primary School Kota, Primary School Kalun and Upper-Primary School Kui.
  • Pokhra: Primary School Chamannau and Primary School Pokhra.
  • Pauri: Primary School Gajendrapur, Primary School Chandkhet, Primary School Doblya, Primary School Thapliyalgaon and Upper-Primary School Kadakot.
  • Dugadda: Primary School Gadhsir and Primary School Keshta.
  • Jaiharikhal: Primary School Moli and Upper-Primary School Raitpur.
  • Nainidanda: Primary School Jhudangu.

Officials cite migration and planned intervention

Anshul Bisht, District Education Officer (Primary Education), Pauri, said children were unavailable in several villages because of migration. He said a quality supplementary education programme is being started, with Block Resource Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators instructed to support the effort.

Bisht also said the arrival of some new Block Education Officers would make corrective work in schools easier. The department expects these steps to improve the student-enrolment trend.

The immediate effect is that schools with no enrolled students will no longer operate under the current arrangement. The department’s stated basis for closure is the absence of students, while its planned education programme is intended to address the wider decline.

Conclusion

Pauri district has closed 40 government schools after 0 enrolment was recorded in 32 primary and 8 upper-primary institutions. Officials have attributed the wider problem partly to migration and are turning to supplementary education and corrective measures to improve enrolment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many schools have closed in Pauri district?

Forty government schools have closed after recording 0 student enrolment.

Q. How many primary schools are affected?

Thirty-2 primary schools recorded 0 enrolment and were closed.

Q. How many upper-primary schools are affected?

8 upper-primary schools recorded 0 enrolment and were closed.

Q. How many primary schools are there in Pauri district?

The district has 1,297 primary schools.

Q. How many upper-primary schools are there?

Pauri district has 231 upper-primary schools.

Q. What reason did the education department give for the decline?

The District Education Officer said several villages lacked children because of migration.

Q. What steps are being planned?

A quality supplementary education programme is being started, and Block Resource Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators have been instructed to support it.

Q. What improvement does the department expect?

Officials expect the planned measures and corrective work to improve the student-enrolment trend.