PANJIM: The State government has shown incredible zeal in increasing the number of primary schools in every taluka but has failed to match this with number of higher secondary schools that is leading to students finishing the SSC not getting admission to Class XI.
Records for the academic year 2015-16 indicate there are 1190 government, aided and unaided primary schools as against 96 HSSs. Ironically, the government has paid even less attention in increasing the number of State-run HSSs from the existing nine.
In a recent development, the Laxmikant Parsekar-led government granted its nod to an additional six primary schools in the Konkani medium for the ongoing academic year 2016-17.
However, the only attempt to cater to the heavy rush for admissions to the higher secondary is allowing increasing sections in selective institutions. “Two factors – increasing students appearing for Class X examinations and improving pass percentages every passing year has burdened several HSSs. Moreover, parents and students’ inclination towards better institutions has resulted in the long wait list of admission seekers,” a senior education official said.
While several HSSs continue to sort out the waiting list, even as institutions have reopened for the 2016-17 academic year, the Education Department is trying to accommodate over 50 admission seekers falling in this category.
“A couple of new HSSs were set up in the recent past but priority seems to boost primary level education,” the official said.
Three talukas – Dharbandora (formed in April 2012), Quepem and Bardez – do not have a single State-run HSS. With just one set up in each of the remaining nine talukas, the government has allowed itself to depend on aided and unaided institutions. Salcette tops the chart with 20 HSSs, followed by Tiswadi 16, Ponda 13 and Bardez having 11 aided/unaided HSSs. The other talukas have HSSs in single digits.
Given that the State is boasting of encouraging higher studies and professional institutions like NIT and the recently approved IIT, these numbers indicate that the government is not serious in preparing students for the higher studies.
