A number of schools in Panjim are badly located, depriving them the possibility of having good infrastructure, playgrounds and other facilities for curricular and co-curricular activities. Proper sanitation, garbage disposal and compounded walls too are missing in these schools to provide for a safe and undisturbed learning environment for the students. Most schools do not have proper toilets even as RTE provides for separate toilets for boys and girls.
While school students elsewhere in the State change classes or subjects at the sound of a bell, about 34 students of a government primary school simply ignore the bells, even when they are rung every few minutes or so.
It has nothing to do with indiscipline and the reason for this unusual behaviour becomes apparent when one visits the school. The bell in the school premises does not belong to the school and moreover, the school itself does not have its own premises.
Believe it or not, the Government Primary School ‘Escola De Marata De Saraswati’ (Saraswati Vidhyalay) is being run in the Vithoba temple at Devulwada-Betim for over 50 years.
At present, about 34 students attend classes in this primary school and the two teachers have been appointed by the government to conduct classes from Stds 1 to 4.
While 14 students are in Std 4, five students are in Std 1 and the remaining 15 students are in the other two classes. Over 90 per cent of the students hail from migrant families residing at Ramnagar-Betim.
Though students get the mid-day meals regularly, the pitiable conditions at the school have compelled parents to shift their children to other schools in the area.
The benches are old and some of them are broken and are unusable. There have been requests to the education department to replace the old benches, but new benches are yet to be sent to the school. During monsoons, rainwater seeps into the temple premises, making it difficult for students and their teachers in the school.
Perhaps, the greatest distraction to the students and the teachers is the very location of the school.
Since the school is located in the temple premises, there is a constant stream of devotees entering and exiting the temple. The participation in the rituals, ringing of the temple bells and the movement of devotees in the temple is a constant distraction to the students and teachers.
On account of the unhygienic conditions prevailing around the school the parents are reluctant to send their children to this school. Instead, they prefer to send the children to schools in Porvorim or Panjim.
As a result, the number of students has been on the decline and this academic year, there are barely about 34 students left on the attendance rolls. The school, however, is hopeful that the student strength would increase as the labourers and their family are expected to return from their native places following the summer vacations.
Retired teacher, Kiran Bhonsale of Betim, recalled that during the Portuguese colonial rule, nearly 100 students were attending classes in the primary school. In 1992, there were 92 students in this school.
“With the passage of time, two more schools, one each and Betim and Reis Magos, were started by the government.
Kasturba High School is located in an decrepit heritage near Mary Immaculate Church.
This school has educated many Panjimites and some even from outside the city. The external building walls remind one of an abandoned structure resembling a ‘bhooth bungla’.
However, the building itself is not the worst of the problems. Because of the location on the slope, it is not possible for the school to have any infrastructural facilities and because of this the students will be seen fraternizing with many who look as if they are of doubtful antecedents and there have been instances of arguments and fights with students and local residents.
Many of these characters also come there because of the girl students of the schools and it appears that there is no chance for the management to ensure any sort to safety or take precautions.
But how can one blame the students. They have no ground, no facilities. Nothing to keep them busy during recreation time.
Progress High School is located right in the heart of the capital. In the background is the imposing white washed church of the Mary Immaculate Conception. The school itself has its classrooms and facilities divided in three buildings. But one of the buildings that lines the road proceeding from the Old Secretariat to the church is in very bad shape. The surroundings could even be said to constitute a health hazard for students since the buildings’ sewage system does not work, spewing out sewage into the open. The water tanks in the building compound are always overflowing, leading to stagnation.
At any given time, there is garbage lying in the corner of the compound which children can see while doing their math and geography in class. The toilets of the school are in pathetic condition to say the least, while the laboratory is to be seen to be believed.
For a State that prides itself on its development and high human indicators as well as high literacy, to allow this school to operate without any supervision and direction is very sad.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji has stepped in and asked the school as well as other inhabitants of the building to conduct repairs and maintain the building. However till date nothing has happened and the building has seen chinks of plaster falling off from the ceilings. One side of the building has plants and creepers growing all over it.
The school adjoins the main road and does not have a ground or any other infrastructural or recreational facilities.
