PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday categorically stated that the grant-in-aid Higher Secondary Schools have to mandatorily allot at least 20 percent of the seats to students residing within 3 km radius as per the rules of the Directorate of Education.
Replying to a starred question tabled by Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar regarding functioning of higher secondary schools in Margao, Navelim and nearby areas, Sawant said that student can complain to the Directorate of Education if admission is denied by any higher secondary schools in the vicinity provided they meet the admission criteria.
The Chief Minister said that there are in all nine higher secondary schools including one government HSS situated in Salcete taluka providing admission to students. He said that all students have been given admissions by all HSS and that no student was denied admission and that still vacant seat are available in general category for class XI and XII streams in Government HSS at Borda, Margao.
Sawant made the statement after Margao MLA Digambar Kamat brought to his notice that some HSS are admitting only bright students and deprive admissions to average students.
Sawant further informed that 1.2 lakh square metres of land acquired at Davorlim has been earmarked for proposed Educational Complex to relocate high schools situated in the heart of Margao.
Expressing concern that encroachers have started encroaching into the government land at Davorlim, he said that he has ordered that the land be fenced from all sides.
Tuenkar wanted to know whether the government has any plans to increase the number of government higher secondary schools in Margao, Navelim or nearby areas and in the upcoming Educational Hub at Davorlim.