India, Jan. 29 -- "It is unfortunate that I cannot go to the new school building near my house any more, and have to walk for 2 kilometres every morning. I become so tired that I feel sleepy in school," said Nuram, who was a student of New Sanjay Nagar Government Primary School, Jaipur, which was merged with the Rajeev Nagar Higher Secondary School by the education department on January 18.

"Many children in our area dropped out of the school due to the distance. But, my parents got me admitted to the school hoping that the construction work of the new building will be finished soon and I will not have to walk so far daily," the eight-year-old said while slowing down her pace due to exhaustion.

Nuram's school has a total of 160 students...