Akhilesh also raises irregularities in recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers

Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday, claiming that it had undermined the state's educational system by closing thousands of primary schools under the pretense of mergers and depriving underprivileged communities of high-quality education.

Sandeep Singh, the minister of basic education for Uttar Pradesh, denied the accusations as "baseless" and claimed that only schools with low enrollment had been "merged" with neighboring institutions, not that any government primary schools had been shuttered. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Yadav claimed that despite their repeated claims of changes, the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and the Center have not improved the educational system.

He said that more than one lakh primary schools have been closed nationwide by the state government, with Uttar Pradesh having the biggest number. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP government has closed as many elementary schools as possible. Additionally, it has closed secondary schools extensively, according to Yadav.

The former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh reaffirmed the accusation outside of Parliament, stating that mergers had caused the closure of almost 22,000 primary schools in the state. All around the nation, primary schools are closing, but Uttar Pradesh has witnessed the greatest number—roughly 22,000. Schools have been closed, even if this is being done in the name of mergers. The chief minister told reporters that Gorakhpur, his home area, has a lot of these schools. Yadav also claimed admissions were declining in intermediate schools, polytechnics and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), alleging that the BJP government lacked commitment to providing jobs and safeguarding reservation.

He further accused the state government of irregularities in the recruitment of 69,000 assistant teachers, alleging that OBC and Dalit candidates had been denied their rightful share of appointments despite approaching courts and staging protests. Targeting the government's handling of public examinations, Yadav questioned the need for another amendment to the anti-paper leak law.

"The government should explain why the NEET paper leak took place after the 2024 law and why students again had to agitate in 2026," he said, alleging that more than 20 recruitment and board examinations had witnessed paper leaks in Uttar Pradesh during the BJP's rule.

The minister of basic education later responded by saying that Yadav's claims were untrue. I provide facts that refute his assertion. No decision has been made by the Uttar Pradesh government to close any Basic Education Council schools. In a video statement, Singh stated, "Every government school is operating."

He said that while pre-primary lessons and "Bal Vatikas" were being held in the abandoned buildings, the administration had only combined low-enrollment schools with neighboring establishments. Akhilesh Yadav is aware that his party will not be able to establish a government in Uttar Pradesh following the 2027 Assembly elections. He is misleading the public by making unfounded claims because of this," the minister stated.