Akhilesh accuses BJP of weakening education system

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the BJP govt, accusing it of weakening the education system by shutting down govt schools. In a statement issued by the party, the former chief minister alleged that the BJP had earlier attempted to close around 27,000 govt schools in Uttar Pradesh under the pretext of "merger" and had now admitted in the Rajya Sabha that 18,727 govt schools had shut over the past five years.
He termed the move a "conspiracy against the future of the country", claiming it would disproportionately affect children from marginalised and economically weaker sections. He argued that access to education ensures awareness and scientific temper, which, he said, run counter to the BJP's ideological outlook. The SP chief further alleged that the closure of govt schools would deprive children not only of education but also of mid-day meals, impacting their physical and mental development. He warned that the move could lead to increased dependence on private schools, burdening families with high fees and associated expenses. Akhilesh Yadav also claimed that rising costs of essential services and commodities — such as fuel, electricity and transport — had already strained household budgets, making private education unaffordable for many. He further alleged that teachers in govt schools are often assigned non-academic duties, affecting the quality of education and lowering teacher morale. This, he said, has weakened the relationship between teachers, students and parents. Calling education a key electoral issue, he said the upcoming elections would see strong public backlash, particularly from women, teachers and families affected by school closures. He also hinted at expanding the party's symbolic "PDA Pathshala" campaign into a larger movement to safeguard education rights.