The Navhind Times: Goa: Monday, July 02, 2018.
Though the
assistant district educational inspector (ADEI), Ponda has managed to reopen a
government primary school (GPS) which was closed down during the last academic
year, five government primary schools have been closed down for the academic
year (2018-19) in Ponda owing to low student enrollment.
It has
brought down the number of GPSs in Ponda to 106 from 111 last year.
Interestingly, out of 106 functional schools, five have not seen any new
admission during this academic year and their student strength is below eight,
the RTI information obtained from ADEI-Ponda revealed.
Considering
the less student enrollment, the government primary schools at Parampoi-Madkai,
Bharbat-Shiroda, Karmane Dongar-Shiroda, Mudai-Panchwadi and Kaswada-Talauli
have been shut down from the academic year 2018-19 by the ADEI, Ponda. After
passing out of the Class IV batch last academic year, the said schools were
left with less than five students and this year these schools did not get any
new admission resulting in their closure, informed an official from ADEI-Ponda.
It may be
recalled that following the parents’ demand, ADEI-Ponda has reopened GPS in
Karmale-Querim, which was closed down last academic year due to low enrollment.
Following parents assurance to enroll their children in same school, ADEI
reopened the school which is first school to reopen.
The number of
students in some primary schools in Ponda is increasing every year, while some
primary schools are not even getting a single new admission.
For instance,
some primary schools in Marcel areas have student strength of more than 100
while there are many whose strength is below 10 and some have only 5 students
in the primary section. It has made deputation of teachers to schools a
difficult task for ADEI, said officials from ADEI.
As per
information, ADEI, Ponda has strength of 204 teachers sanctioned for 106 GPSs
with 2 teachers for one primary school, but there are schools which need 3
teachers considering the number of students. This has left many schools with
only one teacher (part time or full-time) and ADEI is struggling to manage,
informed sources. ADEI-Ponda requires around 10 to 12 teachers more to cater to
the needs of all primary schools in Ponda.Five government primary schools which
have not seen any new admission this year includes Undir Bandora, Khalchawada
Dhavali, Dutole Madkai, Konse Nirankal and Vere Vagurme. With no new admission
and passing out of the Class IV batch, these schools are left with less than 8
students, as per the RTI Act information.
The
government’s decision to provide Balrath buses to aided primary schools, not to
government primary schools, has led to decrease in enrollment in government
primary schools, opined a teacher of a GPS. Since the year the government
launched Balrath service, parents have started sending their children to
private aided schools as buses reach their doorsteps, and have ignored GPS in
their neighbourhood, she added.
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