PONDA: Some GPS schools in Ponda are operating solely due to the enrollment of students from the migrant community, while many others are on the verge of closure due to poor enrolment. Out of the 140 GPS schools that existed ten years ago, 40 have already closed, leaving just 100 remaining.
The GPS school in Nagzar, Curti-Khandepar, has the highest enrolment in Ponda Taluka, with a majority of students coming from the migrant community and families of daily wage workers. However, local residents prefer private primary schools for their children, leading to low enrolment numbers and the impending closure of several GPS schools.
Parents, despite financial difficulties, often borrow money to afford private school fees, believing that they offer better infrastructure and a brighter future for their children. The GPS schools in Ponda primarily serve low-income migrant families who cannot afford the fees of private schools.
While some GPS schools are supported by the enrolment of migrant students, others face closure due to single-digit enrolment figures. Approximately 40 schools have closed in the past decade, and ten more are at risk of closure due to insufficient student numbers.
The closure of GPS schools has sparked blame directed at both the government and parents. Nayan Naik from Kavlem attributes the closures to the preference of local residents for private schools and the poor infrastructure in GPS schools. He also cites delays in teacher appointments and the practice of one teacher handling multiple classes in some schools.
Social worker and environmentalist Sandeep Parkar squarely blames the government for the GPS school closures. He highlights the shortage of teachers, with some schools having vacant positions for years and high school teachers being forced to teach in primary schools. Insufficient infrastructure, such as a collapsed toilet at the Opa- Khandepar school, further demonstrates the government’s negligence towards public education.
