The Students Federation of India has announced that it will intensify its nationwide School Bachao Andolan campaign over the next three months, focusing on concerns surrounding government schools and public education in India.
The student organisation made the announcement at a press conference in New Delhi. According to SFI, the campaign will run through August, September and October and will include school visits, student mobilisation, public meetings, demonstrations and rallies.
The campaign is centred on several issues that SFI says are affecting government school education. These include the closure and merger of schools, shortages of teachers, inadequate infrastructure, student dropouts and what the organisation describes as insufficient public investment in education.
Demand to Reopen Closed Government Schools
One of SFI's main demands is the reopening of government schools that have been closed or merged. The organisation has alleged that a large number of government schools have been closed during the past decade.
SFI has cited figures claiming that 94,000 government schools were closed over the last decade, while the number of private schools increased by around 40,000. It also claimed that government schools lost 85.86 lakh students during this period, while private schools gained 88.27 lakh students. These figures were presented by SFI as part of its campaign and represent the organisation's assessment.
The organisation plans to identify schools affected by closures or mergers in different states and prepare reports based on visits to those institutions.
SFI has said that students and local communities will be mobilised to demand the reopening and improvement of government schools.
Teacher Recruitment Among Major Demands
Teacher shortage is another major issue highlighted by SFI.
The organisation has cited data claiming that more than one lakh schools have only one teacher, serving nearly 29 lakh students. Based on these concerns, SFI is demanding the recruitment of trained teachers for all subjects.
The organisation has also proposed a student teacher ratio of 1 to 20 as part of its demands.
SFI argues that adequate staffing is necessary to ensure that students receive proper classroom instruction across different subjects. It has called for vacancies to be filled with trained teachers rather than allowing schools to continue operating with insufficient teaching staff.
Focus on School Infrastructure
Improving government school infrastructure is another central component of the campaign.
SFI has demanded better classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and functional toilets in government schools. The organisation says improving these facilities is important to ensure that students have access to an appropriate learning environment.
The organisation also wants measures to address student dropouts. It has called for awareness and sensitisation programmes at the local level and efforts to bring students who have discontinued their education back into schools.
SFI has further demanded nutritious midday meals, with particular emphasis on adequate nutritional support for students from economically and socially disadvantaged communities.
Demand for Higher Public Spending
SFI is also seeking a significant increase in government spending on education.
The organisation has demanded that public investment in education be raised to 6 percent of India's gross domestic product and that education receive 10 percent of the annual government budget, with greater emphasis on school education.
These demands form part of SFI's broader argument that government schools should remain an important part of India's public education system.
The organisation has also called for the repeal of the National Education Policy 2020, alleging that its implementation has contributed to school closures and mergers. This is SFI's political and organisational position and is not a finding established by the government.
10 Crore Signature Campaign
As part of the expanded campaign, SFI plans to collect 10 crore signatures from people across the country.
The organisation intends to visit schools in different states, document their conditions and engage with students, parents and local communities. It also plans to submit memorandums to authorities at the block, subdivision and district levels.
The campaign is expected to include state level conventions and rallies. SFI has also appealed to other student organisations and social groups to participate in its public education campaign.
First Major Convention in September
SFI has announced that its first major School Bachao convention will be held on September 8, 2026, at HKS Surjeet Bhawan in Delhi.
The organisation has also announced plans for student rallies at state capitals. Programmes such as Vidhan Sabha Chalo and Raj Bhavan Chalo are expected to form part of the campaign activities.
The September event is scheduled around International Literacy Day and is expected to serve as one of the major national activities of the campaign.
SFI's Position on Public Education
SFI said it has been raising concerns about the condition of government schools for several years. The organisation said the COVID 19 pandemic and its aftermath further highlighted problems related to school closures, student dropouts and access to education.
The organisation has called for greater cooperation among student organisations, social groups and local communities to strengthen its campaign.
At the same time, the figures and assessments cited by SFI should be understood as claims made by the organisation. Government data and official education statistics may provide additional context regarding school closures, enrolment, teacher vacancies and public expenditure.
The campaign comes amid continuing national discussions about the quality of school education, access to government schools and the role of public investment in improving learning outcomes.
What Happens Next
During the three month campaign, SFI plans to expand its school visits, document infrastructure and staffing conditions, mobilise students and submit representations to government authorities.
The proposed 10 crore signature campaign is also expected to be a major part of the organisation's nationwide effort.
The campaign's immediate demands include reopening closed government schools, recruiting trained teachers, improving infrastructure, reducing student dropouts and increasing public spending on education.
The September 8 convention in Delhi and subsequent state level programmes are expected to provide further details about the campaign's activities and demands.
For accurate information about government school numbers, education funding, recruitment and official education policies, readers should also refer to government data and notifications alongside statements issued by SFI.
Key Highlights
Organisation: Students Federation of India
Campaign: School Bachao Andolan
Campaign period: August to October 2026
Major demand: Reopening of closed government schools
Other demands: Teacher recruitment, improved infrastructure and higher public spending on education
Signature campaign target: 10 crore signatures
First major convention: September 8, 2026, Delhi
Planned activities: School visits, public conventions, memorandums, student mobilisation and rallies