Government High School, Agonda
Unmanned school gates and the absence of a full-time headmaster at the Government High School (GHS) at Agonda have not deterred the school staff from tightening surveillance on students following the Vasco school incident.
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If a senior teacher at the GHS, Agonda is to be believed, the 160-odd boy and girl students have been sensitised about the danger of befriending or entertaining strangers within or around the school compound. Students are also forbidden to take lifts from strangers while on the way to school and back home.
“Even though the compound gate remains unmanned throughout the day, one of the two peons is specifically placed at the entry point of school building to keep a tab on the children and to check on any unknown persons entering the school building. Besides, our teachers are also alert on developments inside the school,” informed Amelia Pires, a senior teacher.
Incidentally, the watchman posted at the school does duty from 6 pm to 7 am.
In fact, when this correspondent went past the unmanned gates and visited the school one morning, a sweeper working at one end of the compound was seen watching this visitor. After clicking a picture of the GHS complex, Agonda, this correspondent was approached by one school teacher to justify his presence in the school.
“We were keeping our eyes open on any entrant to the school complex. One of our teachers noticed you and informed the others about your presence in the school,” said the teacher.
Sharada English High School, Marcela
With a capacity of over 1000 students, the Sharada English High School at Bazaarwada in Marcela does not have security at the main gates, but teachers and staff at the school keep a close watch on its students and people entering or exiting the school premises.
Whenever people, known or unknown, enter the school premises, the staff makes it a point to know the purpose of their visit.
Over the years, the school management constructed separate buildings, all adjacent to each other and the school is situated in the locality right along the road which is frequented by locals.
According to information, the school takes due care whenever students, especially girl students, want to go home early for some reason. School authorities crosscheck with the parents if they do not come to pick up their child from school.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour HS, Cortalim
Situated along the busy Cortalim-Sancoale road, the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School at Cortalim is the only school in the village to impart education till SSC.
The school appears quite secured with high compound walls, while gates and the surroundings are kept clean.
As a precautionary measure to avoid the shocking incident of the sexual assault of school girl in Vasco, the school management has initiated a series of measures.The management has announced that anyone in need of true copies of certificates should report to the school between 1.30 pm and 2 pm. Further, the gates will be locked during office hours and those parents planning to meet school officials should send a note with the pupil for a prior appointment.
