Government primary schools are dying a slow death due to the aided primary schools. This situation prevails not only in Pernem, but the scenario is all over the north. At least one primary school shuts down every year due to no enrolment of students.
Pernem taluka has 68 primary schools and 22 aided schools. However, in the last three years nine Government primary schools have closed down because no students were enrolled. These schools include those from Hali, Katurli, Bandarwada Tuem, Kharwat Dhargal, Khutwal and Talarna.
The government primary schools are always taken for granted as they are known for their bad infrastructure, under-rated teachers and the medium of instruction. But the actual reason for the slow death of primary schools is the existence of aided primary schools, says one parent.
Reliable sources revealed the reasons behind the closure of government primary school are the different schemes of government in education sector.
The first scheme is a student of every aided school receives Rs 400 every month and this grant is supposed to be utilised for construction of toilets, stationery, toiletries and sanitary items. However, instead of utilising the grant for such activities, the management uses the grants to attract students in their schools. Sources said that when the teachers visit the villages before the academic year, these teachers give a certain amount to the parents and direct them to enroll their child in their aided school. This results in increase of students’ enrollment as well as the grants.
However, this particular grant is not given to the government primary schools.
The other scheme is provision of mid day meals. Under this service each primary school appoint one helper after batch of 20 students and since aided schools are half privately managed and the management appoints 2 or 3 helpers from different villages further directing them to increase the enrolment by influencing children from their vicinity otherwise they will lose the job.
Sources further revealed another service which haunts government primary schools is Balrath. Balrath facility was actually for the students belonging to OBC, SC and ST from Std 5th to 10th of aided schools. However, with no proper guidelines in place, aided schools accommodate all the students, from primary to high school which they are authorised to and in order to avoid pick and drop, parents enroll the student in aided primary school since there is Balrath pick and drop service which is totally wrong, said a parent on condition of anonymity.
Talking to Herald, a retired Headmaster, said, “It is a need of the hour for parents to know the difference between education and medium of instruction. English is not education but a medium of instruction. However, giving a base of education in Government primary school is more important than learning in private schools. Giving grants under the scheme of Rs 400 per student to aided schools, providing service of Balrath for students of 5th to 10th but accommodating primary students and medium of instruction are major setbacks why the government primary schools are on the edge of shut down.”
A parent Prashant Naik from Pernem said, “The standard of Government Primary schools has improved in recent years. Government has now recruited new teachers especially for English. So enrolling children in primary school does not affect the future of the child. However, parents need to understand that choosing English medium school is not the solution of every problem”.
