Akhilesh Yadav Targets UP Government Over Shutdown of 26,000 Primary Schools

Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav has raised serious allegations against the Uttar Pradesh administration, claiming that more than 26,000 government primary schools have been shut down in the state since the ruling government assumed power in 2017. Speaking at a press conference held at the party headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday, the former Chief Minister announced that Samajwadi Party legislators would jointly raise the matter in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

What Happened

According to figures cited by Akhilesh Yadav, official data showed that Uttar Pradesh had 1,13,938 government primary schools prior to March 2017. He stated that over 26,000 of these primary schools have been closed down since then. The highest number of closures was reported in Lakhimpur Kheri, where 758 schools were shut down, followed by Sitapur with 650 closures, and Prayagraj with 638 closures. In Gorakhpur, the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, around 500 government primary schools were closed.

Mr. Yadav alleged that these closures were carried out to deprive children belonging to the PDA (Backwards, Dalit, Minority) communities of education, noting that a majority of students attending government primary schools belong to Other Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes. He stated that total student enrolment in these schools dropped from 1.17 crore in 2017 to approximately 89 lakh in 2026. Out of the current 89 lakh students, about 25 lakh belong to the OBC, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe categories. Furthermore, the enrolment of female students in government primary schools fell from 61.57 lakh in March 2017 to nearly 45 lakh.

Key Highlights

• Over 26,000 government primary schools out of 1,13,938 have closed in Uttar Pradesh since March 2017.
• District closures include 758 schools in Lakhimpur Kheri, 650 in Sitapur, 638 in Prayagraj, and around 500 in Gorakhpur.
• Primary school student enrolment fell from 1.17 crore in 2017 to nearly 89 lakh in 2026.
• Female enrolment dropped from 61.57 lakh in March 2017 to about 45 lakh.
• Teaching staff reduced from around 4 lakh in 2017 to 3.40 lakh, leaving nearly 81,000 teaching posts vacant.
• Infrastructure issues persist: around 7,000 schools lack electricity, 2,300 lack girls’ toilets, 576 lack drinking water, and nearly 23,000 lack computer education facilities.

Why This Matters

The statistical points presented by Mr. Yadav outline significant shifts in state primary education metrics over recent years. In addition to school closures, the state has seen a reduction in teaching staff from approximately 4 lakh teachers in 2017 down to 3.40 lakh currently, alongside nearly 81,000 unfilled teaching vacancies. Mr. Yadav alleged that teaching posts are being reduced to avoid providing permanent government positions, which require budgetary allocations and the implementation of reservation policies.

The data cited also draws attention to infrastructure deficiencies affecting educational facilities across the state. Thousands of remaining institutions continue to operate without essential basic facilities, including clean drinking water, electricity, separate sanitation facilities for female students, and access to computer education equipment.

What to Watch Next

Samajwadi Party legislators plan to raise the issue jointly during the Assembly session starting Monday. Party members intend to question the state government on issues concerning public education, vacant teacher positions, paper leaks, law and order, and alleged corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many government primary schools were closed in Uttar Pradesh according to Akhilesh Yadav?

According to Akhilesh Yadav, over 26,000 government primary schools have been closed since March 2017, out of a total of 1,13,938 schools operating at that time.

Which districts saw the highest number of primary school closures?

Lakhimpur Kheri registered the highest number of closures at 758, followed by Sitapur with 650, Prayagraj with 638, and Gorakhpur with approximately 500 primary schools closed.

What infrastructure deficiencies were highlighted in the report?

Cited data indicates that around 7,000 primary schools lack electricity, nearly 2,300 lack toilets for girls, 576 have no drinking water facilities, and roughly 23,000 lack computer education resources.

Source: Statement issued by Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav during a press conference in Lucknow.