He also said that the school — Fatima High School — “knowingly or unknowingly” leaked the information about the medical health of the students in violation of the provisions of Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009.
In addition, the management of the school also enrolled the students during last two years when they were not attending the classes in the school, which was also against the provisions of the RTE Act, Parrikar said while announcing an investigation into the alleged irregularities by the school on their role in the whole matter.
Chief Minister also assured the House that an official complaint would be made against the
medical practitioner to the Medical Council of India (MCI) after his role came under the scanner with allegations made that he had spoken — and spooked parents — about the disease.
Parrikar while replying to the calling attention motion moved by Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai, said the issue has been settled and the students studying in the convent school of Nitya Seva Niketan are studying in the Fatima High School Rivona while the HIV positive students have also been admitted to school, the name which would not be disclosed in the interest of children and public.
The House was informed that a total 37 students were housed in the Nitya Seva Niketan School and were provided financial assistance by Goa Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (GSSA) under special training components to the students in last two financial years. However, these students were also enrolled in the Fatima High School during those two years which is not a mandate of the scheme, he stated.
“The entire problem started once Goa Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan stopped funds to the Niketan and they asked Fatima School to take the students. The children, some of them HIV positive, were already enrolled in the school. The school was illegally enjoying the benefit of the government scheme including the mid-day meal in the name of enrollment of these students, who in actual did not attend the classes in last two years,” Parrikar said.
He said that the Fatima school was unknowingly or unknowingly involved in leaking the information about the student health. “The school was aware that the student will be now entering the classes and hence it was their duty to make the parents aware about the issue,” Parrikar stated.
While strongly criticizing the protest led by parents against the HIV students, Chief Minister said “one needs to have trust and faith…they are our children…It’s painful to see that our society is educated but has no knowledge”. He said that HIV is not a disease that gets transmitted by one’s touch, but it is basically a result of uncontrolled sex, mother to child or other medical issues.
