TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The rush for admissions to higher secondary schools may ease in the ensuing academic year 2015-16 as the Education department is examining applications from seven institutions for setting up higher secondary schools in four streams. If these are approved, Goa will get seven new HSS in addition to the 90 already existing.
Dr K B Hedgewar School, Panjim is among six others which have expressed its desire to start a higher secondary besides schools in Pernem, Quepem, Ponda, Bicholim and Margao. Of the seven, three have expressed their desire to start HSS in the Science stream while two have opted for Commerce and one each in Arts and Agriculture.
Director Education Gajanan Bhat has confirmed this, saying assistant district education inspectors (ADEI) are already tasked with compiling feasibility report. “The entire process will be completed by March-end and the applicants will be informed whether or not they are granted permission to start new higher secondary schools,” he told Herald.
He said that the feasibility report will look at several factors such as infrastructure, background and objections from nearby HSS if any among others.
“Our officials are on the job. We expect a report soon so that we can announce our decision by March-end, as those which will be approved to start HSS can begin in the new academic year,” Bhat added.
With the no detention policy in force, an increasing number of students are passing out from school every year, thus burdening the higher secondary system where the seats have increased only marginally. In the current academic year, 21,200 students enrolled in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) will appear for the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education exams in March. In 2013-14, 20,000 students appeared for the exams, while in 2012-13 the number of 19,700.
