TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The parents and teaching community in Goa are gearing up for two major decisions ~ constitution of Academic Council and relaxation in school timings ~ this week from the Education Ministry as assured by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar last week.
A meeting of officials to discuss issues related to education has been convened on Monday by the Chief Minister.
Parrikar, on two separate occasions last week, disclosed that the government will constitute the academic committee within a week which also coincides with the deadline given by the Forum for Rights to Children Education (FORCE) to set up the committee by July 29, 2013, to set into motion steps for resolving the long pending Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue.
Similarly, the Chief Minister and Education Minister Manohar Parrikar had told parents and teachers from North Goa that a decision would be arrived at on resolving issues pertaining to the extension of school timings.
Parrikar had assured to come out with a circular, granting concessions to primary schools not wishing to implement the extended school timings by 30 minutes and for solutions to high schools having difficulties in implementing the half hour extension of school timings.
The opposition to extension of school timings by 30 minutes is gaining momentum and is likely to intensify as secondary school teachers are extremely unhappy over the selective concessions.
Allegations have come to light that the government is apathetic towards the teaching community.
A recent meeting of the All Goa Secondary School Teachers’ Association revealed that the teaching community is extremely disturbed by the anti-teacher approach of the government and now allegedly creating a divide within this community.
Issues that came up at the meeting were on transportation hassles and whether the government’s school bus facilities could cope with the 1000 plus students per institution. It was also pointed out that teachers need not be forced to stay in school by an additional 30 minutes as they otherwise remain in school to conduct remedial classes.
The president of the AGSSTA Dattatraya Naik said, “Timing for school teachers cannot be compared with those of office goers as even if teachers finish classes by noon they have other school related work which keeps them busy.”
Naik said that AGSSTA is firm that a roll back in school timings is a must and that the association is awaiting for a written communiqué to their representation.
The Education Ministry has received several representations over this issue and all sections are waiting for some positive decisions this week.
FORCE too is optimistic that the Chief Minister will constitute the academic council and are hoping that it includes intellectuals who will work out unbiased solutions.
