MLAs portray grim picture of education
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 2
Leaking schools, non-utilisation of education funds, non-filling up of posts, contract teachers, quality of mid-day meals, Right to Education Act, National Institute of Technology (NIT) reservation, professional college fees, Goa University functioning, school infrastructure, etc., were some of the issues that came up before the House on the eleventh day of the Monsoon Session.
Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar, who is also a teacher, placed before the House the long-standing demand of primary schools to have a peon and LDC (lower division clerk) on contract and regular basis. “In May 2009 the Department of Education issued a circular in this regard. One academic year has passed and the second is on, but till date nothing is happening,” he pointed out.
Parsekar said many pre-primary schools were charging exorbitant fees, but classes were conducted in flats, cramped and unhygienic places. Despite charging exorbitant fees, the salaries of teachers in these schools are poor, he added.
He said the government has to make efforts to improve the quality of food under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Certain dishes like ‘pulao’ and ‘sheera’ can be done away with and replaced with some other better items, he mentioned. This suggestion of the MLA found favour with the Speaker Paratapsing Rane.
Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar said large amount of funds meant for primary education has not been utilised. “Many of the government primary schools are in need of repairs. Some of these have no toilets, drinking water, etc,” he mentioned.
Narvekar said the government should think of hiking the fees at the Goa Medical College and Goa College of Engineering. “Compared to private colleges, the government is charging pittance. This is causing loss of revenue to the government,” he stressed.
He chided Goa University for non-implementation of the Sports Policy. The policy finds mention in the gazette notification by virtue of which it should be compulsorily implemented by the varsity, he stated.
Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza too picking up cudgels against GU functioning said as far as the promotions were concerned nothing seemed to be in order at the varsity. “One LDC who was due for promotion was by-passed. There is free reign when it comes to promotions of LDCs and UDCs at GU,” he chided.
Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte highlighted the case of one school in his constituency that had no building of its won for the last 30 years. “I have highlighted the matter and made representations but nothing is working,” he said.
Sopte said a government higher secondary had 400 students but just two toilets that were in a bad shape. There is no librarian for this higher secondary, he stated.
