Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday said the state government was considering shutting down government schools with very low or zero student enrolment and replacing them with residential institutions to improve access to education, particularly in remote areas.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme to inaugurate development projects and lay foundation stones in Unakoti district, Saha said the government had received approval to establish Eklavya Model Residential Schools in areas under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
Twelve of the proposed schools have already started functioning, while another six are expected to become operational soon, he said. The government intends to take up the remaining institutions at the earliest, he added.
Saha said the government was also examining whether residential schools could replace existing government institutions that have teachers but attract few or no students.
“Some schools in ADC areas had teachers but little or no student enrolment. The government is considering closing such institutions and establishing residential schools in areas where students have to travel a kilometre or more to access educational facilities,” he said.
The chief minister said the process of implementing the proposal had begun and that the government was working to move it forward.
During his interaction with reporters, Saha also criticised the previous Left Front government, alleging that it had prioritised publicity over tangible development. Referring to a Hindi saying that emphasises action over words, he accused the previous administration of following the opposite approach.
He further claimed that opposition parties were losing their political influence in the state, citing their performance in recent elections. Saha alleged that they had failed to bring meaningful improvements to people’s living standards during their time in power.
The chief minister said his government was focusing on development and public welfare, emphasising that governance should be measured by tangible outcomes rather than publicity.