PANJIM: Accusing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of killing 26 schools this academic year, Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) on Wednesday alleged that 543 schools will shut down in the next four years due to lack of strength of students.
Addressing the media, BBSM Convenor Subhash Velingkar, said “Permissions to open 26 new schools have been arbitrarily denied this year and in the next four years, the government will close 543 vernacular medium schools in Goa due to lack of strength.”
He added, “Recently the CM said there is no need for any new schools in Goa. The schools’ ratio is set to die in the next four years.” He said that with a strength of 1 to 5 students there are five schools and 6 to 10 students there are 92 schools, with 11 to 16 students there are 183 schools, with 17 to 20 students there are 103 schools, and with 21to 30 there are 35 schools and with 31 to 40 students there are 88 schools.
“Total 286 schools have student’s strength, between the ranges of 11-20 while 123 schools are with 21-40 students each. In other words the schools with less than 40 students will eventually face closure. Parrikar has been showing about the ratio of one teacher per 23 students which is resultant of the closure of primary schools,” Velingkar said.
The BBSM leader also said the government has not provided funds to new Marathi or Konkani schools. He said BBSM plans to hold a dharna on June 26 at different places in the State.
