Team Herald
PANJIM: Nearly 12 government Marathi primary schools have shut down for the academic year 2017-18 due to low enrolment. Students have been accommodated in other schools.
Speaking to Herald, Education Director, G P Bhat said, “All the 12 schools which have shut are Marathi schools and none are Konkani schools. The enrolment in these schools was only 3 to 4 students. The students admitted for the academic year 2017-18 in those schools have been accommodated in nearby schools.”
BBSM Convenor Subhash Velingkar had earlier said that low enrolment in Konkani and Marathi schools was due to wrong policies of the State government.
BBSM Leader Uday Bhembre said, “It can be that students have enrolled themselves in private vernacular schools due to the poor state of government-run schools. The government does not know how to run their schools. Majority of them have poor infrastructure, lack of teachers and necessary facilities. Why will students opt for a government run school?”
He added, “In other states, rural schools are being upgraded so that all facilities are given to students but in Goa the trend is different and the government promotes urban schools. This year no permissions were given for setting up Konkani schools,” Bhembre added.
Meanwhile, the Education Department held a meeting with all Assistant District Education Inspectors (ADEI’s) recently in which the ADEIs were instructed to submit details of students admitted in schools around the State and subsequently pressed for the formulation of the educational action plan for schools for the academic year 2017-18, which mainly focuses on improving the quality of education.
