TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: The Chowgule Education Society has finally decided to open admissions for its higher secondary school this academic year, ending days of suspense and confusion amongst the student community over its fate.
Chowgule College Principal Dr R V Gaonkar told Herald on Wednesday evening that admissions to the higher secondary will finally start on-line from Thursday. “The management has filed its reply to the notice served by the government and it has been decided to open on-line admissions for the XI Science and Arts streams this academic year,” he said, while declining to go into the question whether the CES has struck any compromise with the government on the issue.
When asked whether the Chowgule HSS will enroll students only for this academic year or will shut down the school the next academic year, Dr Gaonkar reminded that the writ petition challenging the government’s decision rejecting permission to close down the school is pending before the High Court, adding that the Chowgule management would await the court verdict in the case.
Replying to another query, Dr Gaonkar said CES had never said they have denied admissions to the students. “If we had the intention of denying admissions, we would have not asked the students to register their names, addresses and telephone numbers on the register book at the college campus,” he said.
That the government and the Chowgule management were engaged in a dialogue to end the stalemate was evident when deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, confirmed on Tuesday that talks were underway to resolve the imbroglio. There were also reports that Dr Gaonkar was spotted in the Secretariat on Tuesday to hold talks with the government.
Wednesday saw the Deputy Director of Education, Ramkrishna Samant calling on principal Gaonkar at the Chowgule college as per instructions from the Education Department.
Meanwhile, classes for Std XII Science and Arts streams commenced at the Chowgule higher secondary school on Wednesday.
When asked whether the Chowgule HSS will enroll students only for this academic year or will shut down the school the next academic year, Dr Gaonkar reminded that the writ petition challenging the government’s decision rejecting permission to close down the school is pending before the High Court, adding that the Chowgule management would await the court verdict in the case
