TEAM HERALD
The meeting was attended and addressed by Caritas Goa Director Fr Maverick Fernandes, Fr Galdino Monteiro, ADEI Sanguem Dinkar Rane and Mamlatdar Sanguem Shankar Goankar.
Despite assurances given by the school authorities and Rivona Parish Priest Fr Lino Florindo, the parents of the students studying in the school refused to accept the assurances given by the school authorities.
Though the meeting lasted for over five hours, nothing concrete came out, but the issue, in all probability is likely to settled on Tuesday when the PTA members, agitated parents and the school authorities meet at 8.30 am.
PTA Chairman Domnick Cardozo informed that the school authorities tried their best to convince the parents and the PTA members over the issue, but to no avail.
“The school authorities reportedly informed that the school has admitted 23 students from the nun’s run shelter home located at Zambaulim in Rivona in the current academic year, but none of these 23 students are HIV positive,” stated Cardozo.
“The school authorities allegedly claim that the 13 HIV positive students which the agitated parents claim to have been admitted in the school are reportedly moved elsewhere in the State. The school authorities claimed that the 23 students admitted in the school are normal students with no illnesses and their medical reports are clean and clear,” added Cardozo.
The authorities also reportedly told the PTA members and the agitated parents to verify the medical reports at their end. The agitated parents were however not ready and willing to accept the version given by the authorities and waited till 3 pm in the school compound for a positive reply from the school authorities.
Though a total boycott by the students was expected on Monday, about 40 per cent of the students attended classes.
Sanguem Mamlatdar Shankar Gaonkar also visited the school in the morning and addressed the agitating parents. Gaonkar tried to convince the parents over the Supreme Court guidelines and the Right to Education Act without any discrimination. He also made the parents aware of the present scenario in the education field, where no child can be denied education irrespective of any illness, caste or creed.
Parish Priest Fr Lino Florindo said the school being aided school it cannot deny admission to any students. The school authorities also tried to pacify the parents that none of the 23 students are HIV positive.
The deadlock however remained unsettled with agitating parents making it a point to go back to the school on Tuesday morning to hear from the school authorities.
