Chandpur parents protest MCD school merger as 50 primary students stay home
On July 1, the merger of the Chandpur co-educational primary school with the Salahpur Majra school in Northwest Delhi's Narela Zone went into effect, prompting local villagers to keep nearly 50 children home in protest over the long commute. The merger, approved by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Education Department in June, has left families in Chandpur and Chhota Chandpur struggling to transport young students to the new campus.
According to local residents, not a single student from the Chandpur school has attended the merged institution, which now operates under the name of the Salahpur Majra school. The daily commute to the new campus requires children to travel four to five kilometres, involving long walks to bus stops and navigating narrow lanes.
For daily-wage labourers in the area, the relocation presents severe logistical and financial challenges. Jai Prakash, a local labourer whose two grandsons study in Classes II and IV, expressed concern over the transition. He noted that the children are too young to travel alone, and dropping them off would prevent him from working.
Vijay, a local barber, also noted that he cannot leave his shop twice a day to pick up and drop off his child, as any time away from work means lost income. Parents are particularly concerned about young girls navigating the long, isolated stretches and changing transport without an adult.
The Chandpur primary school had served children from Chandpur, Chhota Chandpur, and the nearby Bawana Gaushala for over five decades. Bharat Singh Kashyap, the head of the Chandpur Resident Welfare Association (RWA), stated that the school’s central location previously allowed children to walk to classes independently.
The MCD's decision to merge the schools was intended to improve administrative efficiency. However, tensions escalated recently when officials began moving furniture from the Chandpur premises. Local residents gathered to stop the shifting, leading to the civic body locking the school gate.
Villagers have since submitted a representation to the MCD director of education, requesting a withdrawal of the merger. Residents like Krishan Dabas and Narayan Singh pointed out that the main Chandpur school building was declared dangerous in 2016. Instead of a permanent merger, residents want the old structure demolished and rebuilt, offering to accept a temporary relocation during construction.
The MCD education department has sought proposals for adjusting surplus teachers and staff, with officials directed to submit a compliance report by July 15.
