CUNCOLIM: There are five secondary and eight primary schools in Cuncolim. Three schools in Quepem town and three schools in Balli, Fatorpa area, however it may come as a surprise to note that perhaps none of these schools would pass the student security test.
It may be noted that except for one school at Cuncolim and one at Quepem town no school has any security measures in place. However, some have taken the initiative and begun to initiate security measures.
And despite a national hue and cry over security issues for students, barring one or two schools there is not even a security guard appointed by the school, despite the government sectioning the post to every school.
A random survey also revealed that most schools were not maintaining the visitors book.
Except for the Cuncolim school no other school management had appointed security personal to check the entry of strangers in school premises.
Many schools have their own compound, but there are no security checks at entrance not at school complex.
Matters have come to such a state that almost anybody could barge inside any classroom and do anything to any student, as there is nobody to stop the strangers or trespassers in most schools.
It may be sheer luck and good behaviour of Goans that no untoward incident has taken place at these educational institutions, where thousands of children visit each day.
Most of these educational institutions seem to be moving rudderless, without the education department, school authorities and even parents’ associations doing much for improving safety at schools.
Interestingly, it is mandatory for every school to appoint a security guard at the entrance and it is compulsory for every school to install CCTV cameras at strategic locations in their premises. Even those schools that seem to have cameras are not in working condition. In Cuncolim there are two secondary and primary schools that have a compound but no security facility. It’s almost like a public place, where anybody can come in and go as they please, without anybody stopping them.
What is more shocking is that a school in Quepem, which is on the road-side is like a shop in market – there are no security facilities and the school which runs at a rental premises has only one staircase and only on gate. The school authorities are closing the entrance gate and put a lock on it, keeping all students inside the school building. God forbid, if some untoward incident occurs there will be a big commotion and confusion, with just one gate to run towards.
It can be safely said that there is one school in Quepem which can pass the litmus test on security and that is Pope John XXIII high school, which has recently appointed a security guard and have installed CCTV cameras inside and outside the building.
