MARGAO: At the time when the State government is stressing on the new National Education Policy (NEP) and naming of primary schools after freedom fighters and martyrs, it is disgusting to note that a government primary school in Navelim, which is named after Dr Francisco Luis Gomes, is functioning without toilet for the past several years, forcing students to answer nature’s call in open spaces.
However, Education Department officials claimed that the issue has been sorted out and the teachers, besides the students studying in the primary school, have been asked to use the toilet of Rosary High School, located in the same complex.
It is learnt that the ownership of the land where the government primary school is located is with the Fabrica of Our Lady of Rosary Church and the government is in the process of resolving the overall issue of the primary school in the coming days.
The department officials claimed that as per the agreement, the teachers of the said government primary school have failed to instruct the students to use the toilets of Rosary High School.
At present, the issue has irked the parents and citizens who have demanded that a separate toilet be built for the school so that students don’t answer nature’s call in the open and create nuisance in the locality.
Speaking to reporters, George Barretto, a Navelim resident expressed shock after witnessing the state of affairs at the said government primary school.
“It is shameful that students are noticed urinating in the open as there is no arrangement of toilets in the school. We are living in a modern age and at the same time stressing on National Education Policy, but the pathetic state of affairs of government schools over here is shameful,” he stated.
It has been informed that nearly 50 students are studying in the school with four teaching staff.
Reacting to the issue, Sylvia D'Souza, Deputy Director of South Goa Zonal Education Office at Margao, said that the issue has been sorted out.
“Actually, as per the agreement, the students and teachers of this government primary school are allowed to use the toilet of Rosary High School, which is hardly a few metres away. The teaching staff of the primary school should have instructed the students about the same,” she stated.
The Deputy Director also informed that the ownership of the land where the government primary school is located belongs to Fabrica of the Rosary Church and the entire issue of the school will be resolved soon.