PANJIM: Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) anticipates that more than 400 government primary schools will have to be shut down due to government neglect towards the education sector.
BBSM Convenor Subhash Velingkar accused the government of restraining regional language proponents from establishing new schools in Goa and promoting English medium schools despite assuring not to grant new permissions for English medium primaries.
Velingkar said, “Last year 26 applications for Konkani and Marathi medium schools were rejected. The year before last, permissions were granted so late that two schools could not even start. Whereas, a private firm has been permitted to start an English medium school on Kadamba Plateau.”
Velingkar further stated that as per the figures of the department, an estimated 301 govt primary schools will be shut down in two years due to lack of student enrolment and another 108 schools will be shut down in the following two years.
“Currently there are 20 schools with zero enrolment, 18 schools have only 1-5 students, 116 schools have 6-10 students and 147 schools have only 11-15 students each. Thus a total of 301 government primary schools with less than 15 students strength will close down in 2 years,” he stated.
