TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday told the State Legislative Assembly that the declining ratio of children per couple in the State was one of the reasons for declining number of pupils in the government-run primary schools in
Parrikar, who also holds the education portfolio, admitted that the quality education provided at the government-run primary schools is far from satisfactory.
“The primary education provided in the remote areas of the State is of poor quality,” he stated.
Parrikar, while stressing on a need to promote primary education in local language, said ‘there are several parents who feel that only English medium primary schools based in urban areas can provide quality education to their children’.
He was responding to a question tabled by MGP MLA Lavoo Mamledar.
The government in its reply has said there are 268 government primary schools in the State which are having students’ strength less than 15. Of these, five schools are shared by Kannada (2), Urdu (2) and Telegu medium primary schools with total 52 students.
Pointing to the series of reasons for falling number of students, Parrikar said that the replacement ratio (birth per couple) has been 1.72 per couple, as against the required ratio of 2.32. “The situation in
Citing an example, the Chief Minister said, “There is a school in Pernem, where there are total four students in three standards.”
Further, Parrikar said that the situation is grim in several government primary schools, which are run with single teacher. “If the teacher is on leave, then the school has a holiday. The lone teacher gathers all the children in one classroom and teaches them. The students also enjoy ‘long vacation’, when teacher is posted on election duty,” he stated.
As such, he said, government has now decided to have at least two teachers in schools along with posting one English teacher, to enhance the level of English education. “Better quality training would be also provided to the teachers,” he added.
Chief Minister also announced government decision to cluster the school with poor attendance with the neighbouring schools, which would be provided transport facility.
Mamledar alleged that the government was encouraging English or foreign language schools in large numbers.
