Sanguem’s dwindling primary education could shrink further

SANGUEM: In an era of vast technological development and improvised methods of­ teaching, parents of primary school students in Sanguem taluka are literally left with no smart choices but continue to patronise the government-run primary schools.

Unlike developed towns where private schools mushroom on competitive note, most villages in the taluka are situated in the hinterland and have not seen any private or aided school in their backyard given the remote location except Rivona and Sanguem where parents have choices apart from Government Primary Schools.   

Initially, Sanguem taluka had 60 primary schools but over the years the number has dwindled to 51  and is likely to shrink by another two or three in the next couple of years, if the enrolment figures at Sanvordem and Mirabag (6 students each)and Maulinguem (3 students) continues to fall.

In the last three years, three schools have faced closure on account of low enrolment while another has been shut during the current academic year. The schools which faced closure are the ones at Salgini, Periudok, Mushcavrem and Devnamol Kalay.

With the schools located in the hinterland areas, teachers have to travel long distances, thereby reporting late on duty. The matter reached its peak during the last academic year at Government Primary School, Vaddem where parents found a teacher reporting late on duty almost on a daily basis, which forced the parents and the PTA members to solve the issue by staging an agitation.

Another big issue also cropped up last year at Government Primary School, Valkini when a teacher was transferred without a suitable replacement forcing a local youth to run the show at the school for two consecutive days. It was only following media reports that a teacher was replaced.

However, despite several hurdles particularly in the transport sector, the dedicated teachers always report on time to the school and provide the best education, claimed former Bhati sarpanch Manoj Paryekar.  

Paryekar said that the present education policy followed with regards to recruitment of teachers in the primary schools needs to be changed. As of now, most Government Primary Schools are run by a single teacher, which makes it much difficult for the teacher and the students to concentrate and deliver their best. It is only when a school crosses the enrolment figure of 35 that a second teacher is deputed.  

Paryekar stressed the need for frequent inspection of schools by ADEIs to keep better control on the movements of teachers to schools in remote areas.

Incidentally, the Sanguem ADEI office, since the last few months, is managed by a visiting ADEI from Canacona, holding additional charge of Sanguem. The ADEI is available at the Sanguem Office twice a week. A full-time ADEI at Sanguem office is however the need of the hour, claimed Sandip Mapari, a parent.

Of 51 schools in Sanguem taluka, 38 schools are run by a single teacher. The government primary schools in Sanguem taluka have a total enrolment of 1,157 students with GPS at Sanguem, despite stiff competition from private schools accounts for 110 students followed GPS, Wadem Colony No. 1 which has 80 students and GPS, Kalay 67 students. GPS, Maulinguem-Kalay accounts for the lowest count of three students. The schools at Verlem, Rumde, Costi, Costimol, Maulinguem, Mirabag and Pokormol have enrolment figures of less than 10 students during the current academic year. The 51-odd primary schools in the taluka have 77 teachers of which 64 are Government Primary School teachers and 13 are trained school teachers.

A villager Anil Kakodkar from Villian called upon the government to cover the rooftop of the old school at Villian with metal sheets or some alternate roofing as the roof tiles are broken almost on a daily basis by monkeys. The tiles are replaced by the parents at most times to ensure the safety of their children. A request in this regard has been made to the ADEI Office, Sanguem which is pending.  

Adv Amar Naik from Kalay urged the Education Department to improve the quality of education in the GPSs particularly in remote areas where parents have no alternate choice. There is a need to impart quality education, including various co-curricular activities and theme visits. ADEIs should visit the schools at least once in a month to know the level of students as most teachers are taking their job lightly. There is an urgent need to pay special attention to English subjects.