Highlights challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutions due to lack of investment and outdated facilities
Several MLAs on Wednesday criticised the government over the “hasty and flawed” implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and the deteriorating condition of educational infrastructure in the State.
Speaking during debate on demands for grants for departments like Education and Higher Education among others, the legislators highlighted the challenges faced by students, teachers, and educational institutions due to lack of investment and outdated facilities.
Criticising the government for rushing the implementation of NEP without proper planning, MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “NEP says that you have to reduce content load and NEP 3.2 speaks about reduction of the content load across the curriculum.”
“We require time for the children to study the syllabus, to be able to have recreational time, and to concentrate on other activities, but what has been done is that theory-based content has been increased,” he added.
Adv Ferreira pointed out that instead of rationalising the curriculum, the government has burdened students further. He cited the example of the physical education textbook, which he claimed is so exhaustive that students barely get time for practical learning.
MLA Venzy Viegas emphasised the urgent need to improve school infrastructure and regularise contract-based teachers.
“An educated Goa is a progressive Goa,” he said.
“Around 300 government primary schools have shut down in Goa. We need special funds to purchase equipment for laboratories and set up scientific labs. The government has also failed to regularise non-teaching staff,” Viegas noted.
He also highlighted the lack of gadgets and tools in technical education and urged greater investment in the sector.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao strongly criticised the poor state of Goa Engineering College, citing decaying infrastructure, outdated laboratories, and an obsolete curriculum.
“Students at the Goa Engineering College are facing significant challenges,” Alemao stated.
He pointed out that while states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have introduced reforms in technical education, Goa lags behind. He emphasised that students pursuing technical education often remain jobless due to a lack of practical training and guidance.
Yuri also called for improving the student-teacher ratio in all 12 talukas and noted the shortage of basic facilities and science laboratories in schools.
MLA Viresh Borkar highlighted the absence of essential facilities in many schools.
“There are many schools which do not have smart classrooms, enhanced libraries, or even playgrounds,” he said.
MLA Vijai Sardesai alleged that the government is intentionally neglecting aided schools by denying them permission to recruit teachers.
“The policy of the government is to close schools, stall aided schools, pamper private schools, and insult teachers with token salaries,” he alleged.
Alleged that instead of rationalising the curriculum, the govt has burdened students
Claimed students barely get time for practical learning
Emphasised the urgent need to improve school infrastructure and regularise contract-based teachers
Claimed around 300 govt primary schools have shut down in Goa
Highlighted the lack of gadgets and tools in technical education
Called for greater investment in the sector
Criticised the poor state of Goa Engineering College with its decaying infrastructure, outdated laboratories, and an obsolete curriculum