Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday strongly criticised the previous state governments for their neglect of the education sector, stating that before 2017, the condition of secondary education in the state was so dire that the board itself was facing an “existential crisis.” He also said that basic education had nearly collapsed due to administrative apathy.
Speaking at a public event held to distribute appointment letters to 494 newly selected assistant teachers (LT grade) and 49 lecturers in government secondary schools, Adityanath said that prior to his government coming to power in 2017, the state’s secondary education was notorious for rampant mass cheating during examinations. He specifically pointed to the existence of a "contract cheating" system, which he claimed his administration has now completely dismantled.
“There was a time when schools were on the verge of closure, and the very existence of the Secondary Education Board was under question. Education was never a priority for the governments in power. Without a strong foundation, it is impossible to build a strong structure. The will to bring change was missing. Some people were obsessed with gambling away the future of the state's and the country's children,” he said.
Adityanath further alleged that during those times, students from other states — including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and even Jammu and Kashmir — used to appear in examinations in certain UP districts that had become infamous for mass cheating. He said that proxy candidates were a common feature in those areas.
“We completely eradicated this contract cheating network,” the Chief Minister asserted.
He went on to highlight the educational reforms undertaken since 2017, describing them as transformative. According to Adityanath, the government has actively embraced innovation and technology, especially in basic education. He credited ‘Operation Kayakalp’ for leading fundamental reforms in council-run schools and said these changes had been acknowledged nationally, including recognition by the NITI Aayog.
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Reflecting on the early days of the reform initiative, he noted that most council schools were on the brink of shutting down due to a decline in student enrollment and a shortage of teachers. “We addressed these challenges one by one. Today, those very schools are becoming centers of innovation, showing clear and positive results,” he said.
The Chief Minister urged the newly appointed teachers to align themselves with the evolving needs of the education system. “If we fail to prepare our youth to meet today’s challenges, not just this generation, but future generations will hold us accountable,” he warned.
Adityanath also emphasised his government’s commitment to transparency in public recruitment. He claimed that over the last eight years, more than 8 lakh young people had been given government jobs through a fair and transparent process. Among them, over 40,000 positions were filled in the secondary education department alone.
Towards the end of his address, Adityanath also referenced India’s assertive defense policy, recalling the military strikes conducted by Indian armed forces on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “You must have seen what a strong and developed India looks like. We do not provoke others, but if someone dares to interfere in our internal matters or harm our citizens, India responds strongly—even entering the enemy’s territory if necessary,” he said. He concluded by affirming that the world has taken notice of India’s strength and will continue to see it demonstrated in the future.
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