Gurugram, May 22 -- A directive by the Haryana government to merge 194 government primary schools, including primary schools for girls that are located within 100 metres of boys' schools, has led to growing concern in Gurugram, where three such girls' schools have been selected for the merger, officials of the education department said. The three schools are located in Kherki Dhaula, Sidhrawali and Karola respectively. Though the merger is being done to optimise resources and improve efficiency, according to education department officials, parents and teachers however, fear it may reverse years of progress made in encouraging girls to study in rural and semi-urban areas. In Gurugram, the inclusion of the Government Primary Girls' School, Kherki Dhaula, in the list has led to growing apprehension for both teachers and parents. "In 2016, our student strength was just 153 girls. Today, we have 348 girls enrolled," said Manju Kumar, a PGT teacher at the school. "This growth happened because we operate in a separate building, which makes families, especially those from conservative backgrounds feel comfortable enrolling their daughters," said Kumar. "If the school is merged with a boys' school, many of these girls might be pulled out. The parents will no longer feel assured of their safety. Even logistically, it will be difficult to accommodate so many students," she added. Teachers, in these schools, say the idea of merging schools may look good on paper but doesn't account for the ground realities of rural Haryana. The District Primary Teachers' Association has opposed the move, saying the decision should be reconsidered. The Directorate of Elementary Education, Haryana, issued an urgent letter on May 9, asking all district elementary education officers (DEEOs) to verify this list at the block and district level within two days and submit a report confirming whether these schools exist in such proximity. "The decision to merge schools is aimed at optimal utilisation of resources and improving teacher-student ratios," said Indu Boken, district education officer, Gurugram. "However, we understand the concerns raised by parents and teachers, especially in the case of girls' schools. That is why field level verification has been mandated before taking any final action," she added....