With Chowgule College Higher Secondary Science school (HSS) shutting its doors for admissions for Class XI for the academic year 2015-16, there is a dearth of options for students seeking admissions.
Chowgule HSS would accommodate 200 students across four divisions and even though the shutting down had been anticipated for some time now, leading to students seeking admission in other schools, it was still an option for many.
For instance over 600 students had sought admissions last year even though Chowgule Education Society had initially announced that they would not hold admissions and the education department started accepting admissions.
Furthermore, there is a heightened sense of panic amongst students and parents in Margao who are seen rushing to reputed higher secondary schools in Margao where the cut off percentage for admissions to these HSS have also increased this year.
Experts pointed out that last academic year saw the first batch that answered the Class X examinations after the no fail policy was introduced at Class VIII, and a result of which there approximately 4,000 more students passing the Class X exam.
“This had to led to the Education department increasing the science divisions by 50 students each in colleges in the vicinity. These college had already increased their seats the previous year but the government had to intervene as there was a lack of seats,” said Margaret Monteiro, who works in the administration department in Margao HSS.
There were protests against schools due to the high cut off rate and local residents lamenting that they had to send their children to HSS colleges located far away. This had put the former Education minister and chief minister Manohar Parrikar in a tough spot as he had earlier suggested implementing a rule wherein education institutes would be forced to provide admissions to students who lived nearby.
“Students from Margao are going to Angel Ashram in Verna while earlier it was just a choice between Damodar College and Chowgule College,” said Class XII student Ramona Dias from Margao.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai who had formed the Save Chowgule Action Front was quick to criticize the government and management for allowing the HSS to shut and said that this was a major loss for Salcete and South Goa.
“With this decision , the government has not only sacrificed the interest of the students but also of the teaching staff who reportedly have to face yet another U turn by the government regarding their promise,” said Sardesai.
Education department officials insist that there should not be a problem as several education institutes nearby have already been given permissions to start HSS or increase seats while the government is even looking at institutions that have applied to open HSS.
Principal of a Navelim based College linked the increase in students to the rule introduced 12 year ago which restricted the entry age for first standard. “There are more students coming in to Class XI as compared to those entering Class XII students or those who completed their Class XII studies,” said the principal while adding that he was confident the government would find a solution if there was still any problem this year.
He encouraged parents to not to look down upon various higher secondary schools opened in the coastal belt and rural areas where they can seek admissions.
Incidentally when the government agreed to shut Chowgule HSS last year in a phased manner, there was a proposal from a private institution, Popular High School to take over the Chowgule HSS. A representative of the school management already held a meeting with Education department. However at the same time, the Education department is going ahead with the construction of the building near Multipurpose School, Borda, which is expected to house a government run higher secondary school.
This school is aimed at addressing the requirements given Chowgule’s shutting down. Sources pointed out that the construction of the same would take time and even in that case, the response to government run HSS are poor compared to that of private institutions.
