Says govt in dialogue with management; Admission process begins
TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Admissions to the Chowgule Higher Secondary school finally got underway at the Education Department, South Zone on Tuesday, even as Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza said there’s still a day to go for the Chowgule Education Society to reconsider its decision, while confirming that a dialogue between the government and the institute’s management was on to resolve the imbroglio.
D’Souza set in motion the process of admissions by issuing forms to the students in the presence of Deputy Education Director Ramkrishna Samant and BJP leaders Damu Naik and Rupesh Mahatme. “There’s still a day to go for the Chowgule management to reconsider its decision to shut down the higher secondary school. A dialogue is on between the government and the Chowgule to work out a solution,” he said.
He pointed out the government has stepped in to take care of the interests of the students in line with the assurances given in the Assembly. “I have come here to assuage the feelings of the students and parents that government is doing the right thing,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said, “In all fairness, Chowgule should start the enrolment and give government enough time to make alternate arrangements. I would be difficult to make alternate arrangements for the premises, but the government will put in place infrastructure in due course of time,” he added.
D’Souza said it is easy for the opposition to attack the government on any issue, saying they should first introspect how things went bad when they were in power.
When a scribe drew his attention to the fact that Chowgule Higher secondary school had no independent principal and no manpower to run the laboratories, D’Souza observed, “These issues should have been tackled long ago. There ought to have been an audit to take note of the status. During the last 15 months we are only trying to correct the system.” “I personally feel that Chowgule should give reasonable time to make alternate arrangements. They have the right to discontinue and close the institution, but they cannot allow the general public to suffer,” he said.
“Reasonable time means the government should be given enough time since new building will take three years to take shape.”
In the meantime, BJP leader Damu Naik has said the government should not allow the Chowgule Education Society to sub-lease its property in the event the management is firm on its decision to close down the higher secondary school. “The government should even go to the extent of amending the Education Act to ensure that the school premises which was leased out to the Chowgule Education Society remains with the government,” he demanded.
