SFI Announces Nationwide Campaign to Intensify ‘School Bachao Andolan’ for Reopening Government Schools

The Students Federation of India has launched a nationwide campaign to intensify its School Bachao Andolan. The movement fights for reopening of closed government schools. It also demands teachers, recruitment and better infrastructure in public education. The campaign will run for three months across August, September and October. It includes school visits, students mobilisation public conventions rallies and a nationwide signature drive. The School Bachao Andolan has grown stronger because thousands of government schools have shut down in the last ten years. Read the article for more information.

Why Are Government Schools Shutting Down?

Data shared by the SFI shows a worrying trend in government school closures. Around 94,000 government schools have closed in the past decade. In the same period private schools have increased by about 40000. Government schools have lost 85.86 lakh students while private schools have gained 88.27 lakh students. The School Bachao Andolan highlights a severe teacher shortage as well. Around 100843 schools run with only one teacher and they serve nearly 29 lakh students. School closures and mergers hurt students from economically weaker families the most. Girls, Dalit, Adivasi and minority students face the greatest hardship. The School Bachao Andolan wants higher public spending on education to fix these problems. It demands 6 percent of the GDP and 10 percent of the annual budget for the sector. The campaign also asks for the reopening of every closed government school and the recruitment of trained teachers. 

Three Month Plan for Public Education

School Bachao Andolan volunteers will visit schools across every state and mobilise students affected by closures or mergers. A nationwide signature drive targets 10 crore signatures. Memorandums will go to the authorities at the block subdivision and district levels. The first major convection is set for September 8, 2026 at HKS Surjeet Bhawan in Delhi. State level conventions and rallies will follow with programmes like Vidhan Sabha Chalo and Raj Bhavan Chalo. The School Bachao Andolan has raised these concerns for the past five years especially since the COVID 19 pandemic. The campaign demands better classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and functional toilets in government schools. It seeks measures to reduce school dropouts and nutritious midday meals. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds need extra support and the SFI will keep pushing for it. The organization invites wider participation from student groups and social organizations to strengthen this fight for public education.