ABEL BARRETTO
Most Schools in Canacona Taluka lack basic infrastructure that is required in modern times.
There are over a dozen, both private and Govt high schools, in Canacona Taluka most of them built decades ago and are urgently in need of good basic infrastructure without which the overall development of students is hindered.
A senior citizen and social activist Natividade D’Sa in his 70’s, pointing out to the lack of infrastructure like play grounds and compounds in some schools in the Taluka, says that without sports the child doesn’t develop fully. He goes on to say that some schools are close to the highway with no compound wall putting them (as young as 10 years) at great risk due to senseless and unmindful moving traffic.
It’s been regularly reported of the risk faced by the children in and out of schools mainly due to child abuse with suggestions of installing close circuit surveillance cameras (CCTV) in and out of the school premises together with employing security guards at schools and high rise compound walls for security reasons. But most of the schools have thrown caution to winds and neither they have compound surrounding the school premises nor have installed CCTV cameras or security guards at the premises. Some schools have compound walls but these can be easily breached due to low height and broken gate at the entrance.
“Recently I noticed a reptile just in front of a reputed school in the municipal area,” says Mr D’Sa and goes on to say that “we have to take action before something bad happens to the students or the staff of this educational institutions,” he cautions.
Sports play an important role in overall development of a child but due to unavailability of suitable land some schools in the Taluka do not have proper play grounds robbing the child of this valuable activity in childhood which is essential for the overall growth of a child.
“Since children spend a reasonable amount of time in school, a proper playground is the basic necessity to be provided. Playgrounds play an important role in the physical, social, emotional and cognitive wellbeing of students,” says RTI activist Mr. Pradeep Mokhardakar.
“Government can step in to acquire land for playgrounds for these schools, allot land to the schools which are close to the national highway and help them financially to develop the required infrastructure,” he suggests.
