TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: Upping the ante against the midday meal scheme, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of St Thereza High School, Chaudi-Canacona, on Saturday decided not to accept the midday meal in the present form.
The decision was taken at a meeting on Saturday, in which the PTA elected Albert Jacques as its chairman for the consecutive second term.
The PTA members of St Thereza of Jesus High School after discussion on the issue decided not to accept the midday meal in its present form and also expressed their willingness to reconsider their decision depending on the type of improvement the government will bring in the supply of midday meals to the school students.
PTA of St Thereza of Jesus is the second school, after PTA of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, Char-Rasta, to unanimously decide not to accept midday meals in present form, after the food poisoning incident in which 86 students were referred to a health centre.
Incidentally, government is yet to find a midday meal supplier to about 2,000 students after the Char-Rasta incident that led to cancellation of contract of Omkar Mahila Mandal, supplying midday meals to several schools in the taluka.
During the meeting on Saturday, discussions were also held regarding renovation of school building, while health experts, Melkiza Furtado and Nilima Dessai, spoke on nutrition to the children, especially the school students.
The last academic SSC students who passed in distinction (12) and first class (22) were honoured by Principal Fr Andrew Rebello and Headmaster Allelua Pereira.
Later, an election to appoint new executive committee of PTA was held and incumbent chairman Albert Jacques was re-elected.
Other committee members elected are Theresa Fernandes (vice chairman), Luiza Fernandes (secretary), Narayan Dessai (joint secretary), Cedrico Fernandes (treasurer), Mhableshwar Phaldessai, Shivshankar alias Raju Kenkre, Anacina Fernandes (members – parents), Trupti Desai, Prashant Dessai, Roshini Fernandes (members – teachers), Lawrence Barretto (ex-student representative), Dr Eliza Barretto (doctor representative), Simon Rebello (representative social worker), Vasal Carvalho (representative educationist) and Arvind Gayak (representative artist).
