While the education department has ensured that students seeking admission to the science seats will find seats by opening four science streams in Margao, students seeking admissions in the arts streams have had to suffer repercussions of the closure.
“Due to the increase in the of number of students passing out from Class X and in view of the problems associated with the closure of Chowgule College science streams, over the last three years permissions to add a division have been granted to several colleges offering science stream at HSS, in and around Margao,” said an official at the Margao South Education Zone.
However, parents of children seeking admission in arts stream rue the fact that Chowgule Arts HSS stream shut down. “For years Chowgule HSS Arts stream was easily the most favoured by students and the fact that the college has a strong Bachelor of Arts for further studies as well as a platform for extracurricular activities made a difference,” said Rachel Da Gama, former Arts HSS student.
However, government officials said that students had the option of several HSS schools in and around Margao offering Arts such as Carmel College, Nuvem; Rosary College, Navelim; Manovikas School, Gogol and Kings School, Sao Jose De Areal. Officials further pointed out that Loyola High School will also start its first batch of HSS Arts this year and that it should help meet the demands for seats.
Sources pointed out that over the last three years students had sought admissions for both Science and Arts Streams in other Margao colleges even though Chowgule was their favoured destination given the constant fear that the college would shut its HSS section.
While the government had to intervene and persuade the college to keep its HSS open for one more year, the college did not admit students to its full capacity despite orders from the State education board that it should take students up to its maximum capacity.
