Ponda faces an education erosion with dwindling schools & students

PONDA: In the past decade, the State government’s apathy has led to the closure of several Government Primary Schools in Ponda taluka and many others could face a similar fate in future. 

The Ponda taluka, which once played host to 140 Government Primary Schools between 2013 and 2014, is now left with 102 in the current academic year 2023-24 as 38 schools have been shut since the last decade till date. The 102 government primary schools have 177 teachers including 41 English teachers besides 29 para teachers.

Of these, 16 government primary schools operating with enrolment of less than 10 students are on the verge of closure. These include two in Gaunem, one each in Kantar-Usgao, Galwada-Priol, Kapileshwari-Kavlem, Malwada-Madkai, Pali-Savoi, Ponda, Volvoi, Sakre-Shiroda, Galwada-Priol, Par-Usgao, Satode-Keri, Talaulim, Torla-Shiroda and Vagurme.

At the start of the current academic year, poor enrolment led to the closure of the Government Primary School at Varchawada-Dhavalim.

The shortage of teachers has impacted the functioning of government primary schools in the taluka and the recent trend among parents to enrol their children in private schools equipped with better facilities has also affected GPS.

The locals have held the government responsible for the closure of schools by permitting private schools in the vicinity and for allowing them to ferry students in Bal Rath buses. 

They said that Bal Rath buses were actually started to ferry secondary school students, but were mostly used by private primary schools.

A local Dinesh Naik questioned: How can Government Primary Schools run if private schools are allowed to function nearby?

“In recent times, there is a craze among parents to enrol their children in private schools. The parents hope that their children will have a bright future by studying in these schools. The Education Department’s decision to allow private primary schools nearby has affected the government primary schools in villages.  Ferrying of primary students by private schools in Bal Rath buses from villages has led to closure of GPS in villages.  Further, the people from villages settling in the cities have also impacted GPSs in villages,” said Nayan Naik, a parent from Kavlem.

Sources in the ADEI office claim that all primary school buildings are maintained by PWD and are in good condition.

 ADEI officials further informed that the schools shut due to poor enrolment are used for Anganwadis and to run health centres. The craze among parents to move their children to private schools for primary education is one of the reasons for the closure of government primary schools.

O Heraldo visit to the GPS at Adpoi revealed the pathetic condition of the school which could collapse any moment due to lack of maintenance.

“Some of the school buildings in Ponda are old and in need of urgent repair. These abandoned buildings can be used for music class, gymkhana or anganwadi classes,” said Sandeep Naik, a parent.

Umesh Naik urged the government to repair the old school buildings which are shut and use them as government departments for providing various facilities such as Aadhaar Card corrections for which people are forced to travel to distant places.