When a government–run school imparting education to a special section of students in the State turns into an autonomous body, does it imply that the standard of education will improve at the school?
While many parents and some teachers feel that autonomy has led to deteriorating standards at the Sanjay School, a board member of the school management has, however, insisted otherwise.
Sanjay School caters to special children, including the hearing impaired, partially blind, physically handicapped, mentally challenged and children with complex learning disabilities.
“The Sanjay School was handed over from the Red Cross Society to the Provedoria, as the Red Cross Society faced financial constraints in running the school. The Sanjay School was run by Provedoria since 1983 and an advisory committee had been nominated by the State government,” a source in the Sanjay School informed.
In 1995, the State government appointed a qualified principal, under whose guidance the school progressed from 20 to 698 students. Later, the school opened branches in Curchorem, Mapusa and Vasco to reach out to students residing elsewhere in the State.
“In 2010, the Sanjay School was turned into an autonomous society ‘Sanjay Centre for Special Education’ (SCSE), when Vijayadevi Rane was chairperson of the school. Under this arrangement, the school was totally financed by the government, but was able to collect funds totally controlled by the management,” the source said.
On September 2, 2010, the director of education approved the board of management, where the chairperson of the Sanjay School’s advisory committee under Provedoria was made chairperson of SCSE. The issue had been raised in the assembly when the BJP was in the opposition.
“Teachers, employees and parents of Sanjay School were never officially intimated about the changes. Teachers and employees were appointed as government servants, but what is their status today? Besides, how is it permissible to transfer prime government property and hand it to some private body,” asked the source.
“The autonomous body also appointed a manager and a section head officer for the school. Two retired government servants were appointed on a two-year contract by the previous government, but they have somehow managed to renew their contracts. They enjoy a pension, besides a good salary and other perks.”
“Where was the need to appoint these two retired persons, when a headmaster is at the school? The member secretary holds charge in other government offices and is, hence, unable to devote sufficient time for the school,” the source added.
When Herald visited the school, students complained that some classes were not being conducted properly.
“In some cases, peons are kept in the class and teachers roam around,” complained a student, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some teachers admitted that the school had good discipline when principal A Viegas was manager.
“An upright and qualified hard-working experienced teacher was recently transferred to Curchorem as punishment for questioning a school official on some issue,” added the teacher.
