Awaken Goans has raised serious concerns over the functioning of Goa’s school education system, submitting 10 critical questions to the state government and the Directorate of Education and calling for greater transparency, accountability and administrative action.
The civic activist group has sought clear answers on several issues affecting teachers, schools and the overall functioning of the education department. It has particularly questioned the government’s policies and procedures relating to teacher promotions, transfers, staffing and the monitoring of schools.
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One of the key demands is complete transparency in the process of teacher promotions. Awaken Goans has sought clarity on the rules and criteria being followed while considering teachers for promotions, along with details of how such decisions are implemented.
The group has also raised concerns over financial losses allegedly suffered by teachers because of administrative delays. It has asked the government to clarify whether teachers who faced financial setbacks due to delays in official processes will be compensated and, if so, under what mechanism.
Staff shortages in government schools have also come under scrutiny. Awaken Goans has sought detailed information on the number of sanctioned posts in schools compared with the number of teachers currently in position. The group believes that such data is necessary to establish the extent of vacancies and assess whether schools have adequate teaching resources.
Teacher transfers are another major concern highlighted by the group. Awaken Goans has called for a review of the existing transfer criteria and procedures, seeking greater clarity on how teachers are selected for transfers and whether the current system is being implemented fairly and consistently.
The group has further called for regular audits of schools to ensure that public resources are being properly utilised. Such audits, it said, should examine administrative practices as well as the use of funds, infrastructure and other resources provided to educational institutions.
Beyond individual administrative issues, Awaken Goans has demanded an independent and transparent inquiry into allegations of corruption and possible misuse of resources within the education system. The group has stressed that any investigation must be conducted within a clearly defined timeframe and should not be allowed to remain pending indefinitely.
The activists have also sought official documentation to support the government’s responses to the concerns raised. According to the group, verbal assurances alone are not sufficient when questions involve public administration, financial accountability and the functioning of schools.
Awaken Goans has maintained that the government must demonstrate accountability through concrete action and documentary evidence. It has called for authorities to place relevant information in the public domain so that teachers, parents and citizens can understand how decisions are being taken.
The 10 questions put forward by the group ultimately seek to bring greater scrutiny to the education department and ensure that administrative decisions are transparent and accountable. Awaken Goans has urged the government and Directorate of Education to provide clear, documented responses and take corrective action wherever irregularities are established.
The group’s demands place the focus on transparency in teacher-related policies, staffing levels, school administration and the use of public resources, while seeking an independent mechanism to examine allegations of wrongdoing.
