CANACONA: Around a dozen Government Primary School (GPS) buildings in Canacona are on the verge of collapse. With no classes held in these buildings at present, the government seems to be least bothered in giving them a new lease of life.
Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDCL) has been repairing the school buildings in the taluka for the past two years.
However, the schools which were closed down have been kept shut since then and the state of their buildings is a cause for concern.
Primary schools in every other village make education accessible for the majority of the children. But the government’s apathy towards these schools has led to the closure of many.
The government schools at Muthal, Iddar, Malore and Dhavalkhajan were shut at the start of the current academic year on account of low enrolment.
A few years ago, Canacona had 76 government primary schools which now dwindled down to 58, which have 73 teachers. Besides, the Education Department has appointed 19 English teachers, who have been given the responsibility of teaching in two schools each. There are also 5 para teachers and 8 teachers working on a contract basis. These teachers too, are handling two to three schools at a time. Over 15 teachers retired during the last academic year in Canacona.
Three years ago, there were four ADEIs in Canacona, and at present only two have been entrusted with the responsibility. Of the two, one has been given an additional charge from the Sanguem ADEI office. The Canacona ADEI office has its vehicle and a driver but due to excess duties, the office cannot inspect the schools on a regular basis. However, the official during the first week of June visited 45 schools and met the parents.
The student strength in these schools till June 30 was 1,035. There are 245 students studying in the Std I, 273 in Std II, 271 in Std III and 246 in Std IV. There are 16 private schools in the taluka and one school for special children of Lokvishwas Pratisthan. The total strength in the private schools is 1,468 with 352 students studying in Std I, 342 in Std II, 339 in Std III and 435 in Std IV. St Theresa of Jesus Primary School at Chaudi has the most number of students with 305.
The ADEI claims all primary school buildings are in good condition.
“Almost all primary school buildings in Canacona are in good condition. If complaints are received by parents regarding any building then the senior officials are informed about the same. Some buildings are in bad condition and the Health Department has asked for those buildings in order to open a sub-centre in the village,” said Canacona ADEI Ashok Gawas Desai.
But parents tell a different story. “Some of the school buildings in Canacona are old and are in need of urgent repairs. Schools are considered as temples of Goddess Saraswati and yet, their maintenance is always neglected. The government spends crores of rupees on various things. They could use some part of that amount to repair the school buildings,” said Surendra Naik, a parent from Vadamal, Sristhal.
“The Education Department’s decision to allow private schools to be opened near to the government schools has affected the government primary schools. People from villages shifting and settling into the cities have impacted the GPSs in villages,” said Hairshchandra Kholkar, a parent from Khola.
He suggested that the old school buildings be repaired and used for other government departments.
