PANJIM: Attendance in almost all educational institutions dropped as public transport services – with the exception of a few KTC buses – stayed off the roads on Wednesday responding to the call for a nationwide strike.
While no institution announced a holiday, a majority of the schools closed earlier than usual. The government too had not declared a holiday for schools, colleges and government offices. As in educational institutions, attendance at various government offices was low due to lack of transport facilities.
“We had about 50 percent attendance of students and 60-65 percent of teachers. Nonetheless, classes were held regularly,” Mushtifund Secondary School headmistress Aparna Chari told Herald.
Poor attendance was also seen in Our Lady of the Rosary High School, Dona Paula, Mary Immaculate High School, Peoples’ High School, Don Bosco High School and other institutions including higher secondary schools and colleges.
“Normal classes were conducted, though we barely had 7-8 students in each division. Those present in the school should not suffer which is why classes were conducted like other normal days,” Our Lady of the Rosary High School Principal Sister Antonette said.
Unfortunately for students who missed classes on Wednesday, school managements have decided to mark them absent. Sister Antonette said all their students, depending on public transport were asked to make alternative arrangements when the strike was declared.
Peoples’ High School, that had merely 190 out of 850-odd students attending, too took a similar decision. “Students did inquire whether we had declared a holiday but we had no directions from the Education department. The school was open but classes could not be conducted with merely 5-6 students in each class,” Headmistress Poornima Naik said. She added that absentees will not be given any relief. “In the wake of thin attendance, we called the parents of the respective students to pick their children at noon.”
Mustifund school is yet to take a call on whether or not to mark students, who could not attend the classes, absent. Dr K B Hedgewar High School gave it a different thought by not holding classes for students but instead organized a workshop for teachers.
