Schools say unable to increase student intake

Narendrasinh Jadeja,president,Gujarat State Principal Association,said when the GR was issued,they had taken up the matter with the state Education Minister,who told them the notification was “misinterpreted” and that a revised GR would be issued.

“But we have not received any new notification. Principals from various regions have reported that they were asked by the respective district education officers to submit details on the classes with less number of students,” he said.

He added: “Similar complaints were reported from Rajkot and Junagadh where principals were told that classes with low student strength will face closure. We have asked them to hold the process till further information from the Department.”

Officials from the Education Department could not be contacted,while B F Rathod,a member of the Vadodara District School Principal Association,said,“It is impossible to meet the new requirements in the rural areas.”

He said most schools could hardly admit 23 students and if the guidelines are not changed,“many classes will be closed”.

At present,the Education Department is carrying out a statewide survey to know the exact number of students and teachers.