Lucknow, June 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh Primary School Teachers' Association (UPPSTA) has scheduled a key meeting on June 30 at the block level, bringing together district presidents and other senior office bearers. Participants will include members of the block working committee, block sangharsh committee, the retired teachers' cell, gram pradhans of affected schools, chairpersons of school management committees and parents of enrolled students. The agenda will focus on the adverse impact of the state's school merger policy on both students and teachers. The association's president, Dr Dinesh Chandra Sharma, stated, "Decisions will be taken based solely on the proposals submitted by the respective school management committees." He urged for active participation from all stakeholders to ensure a well-informed and consensus-driven outcome. Vipin Bihari, a representative of the UP Prathmik Shikshak Sangh, added, "On June 30, block-level officials, including presidents and ministers from across districts, will brief village heads, parents, and students on the ongoing school closure process and the damage it is causing to the educational environment and teaching staff." Earlier this month, the basic education department issued directives to close all government primary and upper primary schools under the UP basic education council with fewer than 50 enrolled students, merging them with nearby institutions. The list of such schools has already been compiled by district and block education officers. Sharma said the department's decision has sparked dissatisfaction among parents and village heads. "Instead of addressing these concerns, block education officers are pressuring teachers to endorse the school closures through their school management committees," he claimed in a social media post. A delegation led by Dr Sharma will meet with state authorities to discuss several pressing issues, including school mergers....