Seven Marathi medium Government Primary Schools (GPS) in Ponda Taluka and one Konkani medium school in Mormugoa Taluka have already shut down this academic year due to low enrolment. Tension among other schools is also growing high as the enrolment ratio is gradually dropping down year by year. Many schools face a threat of closure Statistics obtained by the office of Assistant District Educational Inspectors reveals that out of 140 GPS in Ponda taluka, 20 GPS had to shut down since 2013. Similarly in Mormugao, four schools out of 27 shut down during same period. This is serious since the closed schools were located in suburbs and not in very remote villages of both these talukas teachers in many of these schools realise the extent of this migration they recall packed classes in these primary schools with 60 to 70 students studying in each classroom.
Ironically majority of the schools visited by Herald in both these taluka’s had the same issue- a dilapidated school building and a single multitasking teacher, who is also the Principal, clerk and the peon all rolled in one and all four class studying in single room, with each bench signifying a different “class”.
Vijaya Talaulikar, a teacher at GPS Kerayewada-Khandepar-Ponda, and Chairperson of Ponda Taluka Government Primary school teachers Association, speaks about the change “In the year 1979 when I joined a government primary school, there was no value for English as parents used to prefer mother tongue as the only Medium of Instruction for their children in schools. However the inclination towards private aided schools is only because there is a wrong perception that only private schools are better and impart quality education. Even government schools produce scholars, but the trend of migration is due to various other factors” she told herald.
Truck driver Tapan Sharma is clear why his child goes to an English medium school. He said, “Facilities available in private schools are much better than government ones. I decided to admit my child in a private school in Ponda”. The point raised by Sharma is something that teachers in government schools acknowledge
In aided or private schools, even the appearance of students are strictly monitored and presence of many teachers adds up to the advantages. The appearance of a government school itself is unattractive and the school appears to be warehouse” confessed Leena Narvekar, a Para Teacher teaching at GPS Marval Curti in Ponda Taluka.
Believe it or not but migrants are the largest beneficiaries of the government primary schools in suburbs and urban areas in both these talukas. Schools officials confirmed that they are still operating only because Migrant families have admitted their children’s in these GPS and there are hardly any locals opting out to admit their child in GPS.
“Our school has 90 percent students coming from poor and labour class families but despite of all out efforts locals still prefers other private government aided schools including Dada Vaidya, Lions club schools etc” said Nayan Gaonkar, a primary teacher at Marval, Curti in Ponda.
Only in areas where there are no aided schools in the vicinity which teach English, the enrollment in government schools teaching Marathi or Konkani is high “It is only because we don’t have options of other aided school in our neighbourhood we have admitted our children in the government school” said Shyam Chari, a parent from Codar village in Ponda taluka.
The faith of GPS schools in Mormugao is not very different. Schools are slowly shutting down its operations due to low enrolment. however the situation is a little different in few areas only because these government schools are located in the neighbourhood of slums and has a good strength compared to other schools in taluka. GPS Zuarinagar, GPS Matve Dabolim, GPS Assaidongri, GPS Vasco Main, GPS Bogmalo are few schools that were solely dependent on migrants.
But as migrants shifted elsewhere and new private government aided schools opened up in the the neighbourhood, GPS Matve Dabolim, GPS Assaidongri, GPS Bogmalo had to close down one by one in the last three academic years.
Most of the schools visited by Herald although had a provision of two classrooms but students of all four standards are taught in one classroom where each bench is a separate class.
Howvever if the government provides good infrastructure facilities and modern teaching aids in the government schools located in remote villages then the deteriorating situation would surely improve and people might start considering GPS as first option as it was in past.
