TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Promising parents that the government would resolve the extended school timings issue within 15 days after taking into account their feelings, sentiments and difficulties, Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar has said the schools will be given some freedom wherein the PTAs (parent-teacher associations) can work out a mechanism on the timings within the laid down parameters.
He further assured that the government would come out with detailed explanation on questions raised on the May holidays by July-end.
After an interaction with parents and other stakeholders at the Loyola School, Margao on Tuesday noon in the presence of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, Benaulim legislator Caitu Silva and Velim legislator Benjamin D’Silva, the chief minister said the government would take a decision on the school timings after hearing the views of parents from north Goa as well. “Most of you have a problem with the afternoon time. They reason may be anything. I assure you that within the next two weeks, a positive decision will be taken by the government. I will listen to more parents and will then consolidate the difficulties before coming out with a solution”, he added.
Saying that he do not want any child to go home on hungry stomach, Parrikar said that he will declare a solution before July 24-25. “Why I am not declaring the solution today is that there is a procedure which ought to be followed. I don’t want to create confusion. Let the circular come along with the solution”, he added.
Saying that some parents in north Goa have asked for school timings form 10 am to 5 pm, Parrikar said that he cannot stop these parents from having the school timings. “Routine life cannot be disturbed overnight. I will call a meeting of parents from north Goa. I will also talk to the people who had taken the decision”, he said, adding “though education should be student centric, that does not mean that other components can be neglected.
Parrikar announced that the Education Department would soon give 100 buses to the schools, which would also help resolve the timing issue.
