PORVORIM, JUNE 30
A school is considered a ‘temple of learning’, but this school is, quite literally, being run in a temple at Betim for nearly half a century.
Despite tall claims by the government to provide better education, a government primary school is being run at the Shantadurga temple at Devulwada-Betim for the last 48 years.
Presently, 32 students are studying in the primary school and two teachers have been appointed by the government to conduct classes from Std 1 to 4. There are neither fans in the school nor the toilet facility for the teachers and students.
In 1992, there were 92 students in the school. Due to unhygienic conditions prevailing around the school, the parents are reluctant to send their children to the school. Instead the parents prefer to send their children to schools in Porvorim or Panjim.
Therefore, the number of students declined gradually and in 2010, only 32 students are left on the roll.
Being a temple, there is a constant flow of people. When devotees enter the temple to pay respects to the deity, the students get distracted and are unable to concentrate on their studies. Teachers also get distracted and find it difficult to teach the students.
When this scribe visited the temple/school, it was noticed that the sweeper was cleaning the floor when the students were being taught.
A parent speaking to Herald under the condition of anonymity said he was not interested in sending his son to the primary school.
“Since I have to leave for my work early in the morning, I am unable to spare time to drop my son, if admitted in school at far-off places. The teachers are doing their job properly, but the students can’t concentrate on the studies,” he said.
“The students instead of paying attention to what teachers teach, they look at the people entering the temple,” added the parent.
When contacted, Reis Magos Deputy Sarpanch Francis Colaco said in the gram sabha held on May 16, a resolution was adopted by the villagers that the panchayat should look out for a piece of land for the construction of government primary school building.
“Accordingly, the panchayat has started approaching the people who can donate land for construction of the school building. There is a persistent request from the residents to shift the school in a good building,” said Colaco.
