Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has clarified that the government does not intend to close down government-run primary schools, but at times has little choice due to declining student enrolment. Speaking during a virtual session with parents, teachers, and students under the Mulyavardhan 3.0 scheme, Sawant explained that factors like families moving to urban areas and the preference for aided high schools often reduce student numbers, forcing the administration to consider school mergers.
Sawant stressed that while some schools have been merged, the government has not actually shut them down. “We haven’t shut down any Marathi school either,” he noted, adding that instead of closures, the focus has been on renovating and rebuilding existing schools to enhance infrastructure and create better learning environments. Acknowledging that some primary schools currently function with only one or two teachers, the Chief Minister assured that the ongoing recruitment process would address this gap. “Once recruitment is complete, each school will be allotted four teachers,” he promised, aiming to strengthen staffing and improve educational quality.
Responding to concerns about the Balrath scheme, which provides transport for schoolchildren, Sawant clarified that the service is meant for students living within a 3-kilometre radius of their school. He urged school managements not to misuse the scheme by picking up students from 15–20 kilometres away, warning that doing so undermines its purpose and could prevent nearby children from benefiting.
Sawant’s remarks reflect the government’s broader approach to improving Goa’s primary education system through infrastructure upgrades, better staffing, and careful implementation of student welfare programmes. He called on parents, teachers, and school administrators to work together to ensure that government-run schools remain accessible and effective centres of learning for all children.