SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Clarifying that the government has no intentions of shutting down Marathi and Konkani primary schools, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appealed to NGOs, religious institutions and societies to come forward to adopt primary schools in Goa.
Sawant, who is also Education Minister, said that the government was trying hard to improve the quality of education at the primary level.
This comes in the wake of the below-national average performance of Goa’s school students, according to the National Achievement Survey report for 2021.
On Saturday, for the first time, the CM, held a virtual interaction with parents, teachers and students, under the theme 'Shiksha pe Charcha', which saw the participation of nearly 50,000 people.
He said that by November, 150 primary teachers will be hired and posted at various primary schools.
“Vidyanjali is an initiative of the Central government that pertains to the adoption of schools, wherein the schools will be under the control of the government, but interested NGOs, social and religious institutions or societies can adopt and manage them. Even young professionals, retired teachers or associations from the public-private sector can adopt schools,” said Sawant.
He urged societies, religious institutions and banks to support village schools by registering on Vidhyanjali portal.
The Chief Minister also clarified that the government does not intend to close down Marathi or Konkani medium schools but is trying hard to improve the quality of education offered and increase enrolment numbers in the primary schools. The department of education will go for a merger of schools only in the case of schools that have very few students, and only after consultation with parents and teachers.
Stressing on primary education, he said that the government of Goa is very serious on the issue and is focusing on the implementation of the National Education Policy.
"The responsibility of children studying in primary schools should not be imposed only on their teachers, but parents also need to take up some responsibility for the academic progress of their children. We are also planning to upgrade the training imparted to teachers, especially those teaching languages, mathematics and English,” said Sawant.
He said schools will start giving priority to maths and languages, besides value education, to help children get the basics of life right.
“Special training to mathematics teachers will start shortly,” added the Chief Minister.
Sawant said that many high schools are using Balrath buses to bring children from villages and neighbouring areas to their primary school, which is not acceptable.
