GHA concerned over repeated delays in distribution of books

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The Goa Headmasters’ Association has decided to request the government to take a serious look at the repeated delays in distribution of books to school students at the start of each academic year over the last five years, since it is not the case this year alone.

The new committee headed by Fr Domnic Savio Fernandes (President) and Vilas Satarkar (Vice President) met Friday and expressed concern over the new trend in late supply and distribution of books to students. “We have been noticing that this has been going on for the last five years,” Fr Fernandes said, students who come to school look forward to having their books to get on with their studies, he said.

“It also helps inculcate interest for learning right from the start,” he said, adding that it is time that systems are put in place in the interest of the children and teachers who now have to follow a (rigorous) calendar. The GHA has welcomed the government’s decision to increase the instructional days, but has also objected to the cancellation of the two discretionary holidays.

“We will write to the Education Department to do a re-think on this and restore the holidays,” Fr Fernandes said.

The new committee which has just taken over, it is learnt is studying various issues concerning school education and would talk to concerned authorities in the weeks to come.

The increase in school timings by 30 minutes coupled with absence of textbooks has resulted in restlessness in school campus, as headmasters meet this week to deliberate on the issue.

When Herald spoke to a few heads of school institutions in Goa, many expressed concern over the shortage of textbooks even 15 days after the new academic year has commenced. While they complimented the government of attempting to fine tune the system by increasing the working days, instructional days and timings, the non supply of books would not make the new calendar system effective.

“The idea is very good to have a common calendar,” said headmaster of Dayanand Arya High School, Neura, Madhav Kharvy, but added that since students have to spend more time in school the schedule should have been from 9 am to 4.30 pm with adequate breaks to break the classroom monotony and prevent fatigue.

“Students are still awaiting their books,” Vilas Satarkar, Headmaster of Dr K B Hedgewar High School, Panjim said, adding that the institution has made some alternate arrangements.

Meanwhile an institution head, not wanting to be named, argued that, “Both the textbooks and the common calendar should have been ready much before schools re-opened. We have already lost 15 precious days and without textbooks the situation is looking very pathetic,” said this headmaster from a city school in Panjim. 

But the sudden announcement of prolonging of school hours has left many schools struggling to adjust their time-tables and squeeze in the 30 additional minutes in their day.