Goa, July 14 -- Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has clarified that the government does not intend to close down government-run primary schools, but at times has little choice due to declining student enrolment. Speaking during a virtual session with parents, teachers, and students under the Mulyavardhan 3.0 scheme, Sawant explained that factors like families moving to urban areas and the preference for aided high schools often reduce student numbers, forcing the administration to consider school mergers.

Sawant stressed that while some schools have been merged, the government has not actually shut them down. "We haven't shut down any Marathi school either," he noted, adding that instead of closures, the focus has been on renovating and ...