lThese will merge with 118 schools lDoE has already identified nearly 150 schools whose student strength is less than the prescribed number of 10 lProcess will be undertaken in a phased manner
lIn the first phase, total 22 schools have been shut down as a result of amalgamation
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Due to falling numbers, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has planned to amalgamate 262 government primary schools into 118 schools in a phased manner. The department has already identified nearly 150 schools whose students are less than the prescribed number of 10.
In the first phase, a total 22 schools have been shut down as a result of amalgamation. Attempts by the DoE to merge two or more neigbhourhood schools that have low enrolment, so that the students at least get the benefit of an additional teacher, had failed year after year. The number of such low enrolment schools is only going up, due to competition from neighbourhood aided schools. However, the government on June 3 came out with a notification to amalgamate all those schools where the student strength is less than 10.
“We are trying to merge around 150 schools with less than 10 enrolments with one another. All will be done in phase manner. We are taking the parents into confidence,” Director DoE Anil Powar said adding that the schools facing closure should not feel any discomfort if they are shifted to other schools.
In the first phase, total 22 schools have been shut down as a result of amalgamation. Seven schools are from Bicholim taluka and five schools from Quepem. The students have been shifted to nearby schools while the existing staff-teaching as well as non-teaching have been transferred.
Powar said that every school with poor student strength would be amalgamated with the school having adequate student strength and located within the 3-km area. He stated that all facilities would be provided to these schools including library and playground.
Government in future also plans to amalgamate schools having student strength of less than 15 and 20, as the number of such schools is also high. ]
Goa’s School Education Rules allow the DoE to allot an additional teacher only if the school has been able to enrol 24 more students over its past enrolment. The State has one of the highest percentages of single teacher schools in the country standing at 34 per cent. As per the State government record, there are at least 50 schools running without a single student in Class I, while almost over 67 schools run without having a single student also in classes II and III. Eighteen schools have no student in Class IV.
There are five schools with only two students, whereas four schools with only three students and 12 schools with only 4 students.
Maximum number of such schools – 35 – is in Sanguem taluka (some are now in Dharbandora taluka). The lowest number of such schools is in Mormugao taluka, having only nine schools with strength of less than 10 students.
