The picture of pre-monsoon rains catching government schools off guard once again reveals a trend of negligence, carelessness, and inefficiency that jeopardizes the core of elementary education in the state. Despite numerous warnings from previous occurrences and evident seasonal trends, officials have again failed to ensure that school facilities are sufficiently prepared ahead of the arrival of rain.
The lack of urgency and foresight not only endangers student safety and educational quality but also reflects a broader systemic indifference that needs urgent attention especially when the State is accelerating with the National Education Policy (NEP).
At the core of the issue is a worrisome lack of planning and timely execution. Reports indicate that, throughout Goa, around 25 to 30 government schools in areas such as Pernem, Taleigao, Ponda, and hinterland regions had their roofs either unfinished or exposed just as the pre-monsoon rains began to hit. Many of these schools initiated repair work in May with the paperwork taking time as always. Since the pre-monsoon downpour arrived sooner than anticipated schools were left to manage with temporary arrangements, conducting classes in temples, panchayat halls and makeshift rooms when they resumed in June.
The repeated mishandling of school repairs raises a crucial question of why the government continues to time such essential infrastructure work so late into the summer, despite knowing that the timeframe for effective repairs is brief and the risks are heightened. A sensible course of action would have been to finish repairs well ahead of time when conditions are typically dry and predictable. Also, work on the roofs should begin first instead of the interiors.
Leaving school buildings exposed to rainfall during ongoing repairs is not simply an inconvenience; it poses a serious threat to structural integrity. For example, at Taleigao and other places the rainwater soaked the entire structure while at Agarwada-Pernem, where the roof was eventually installed, the classrooms remained windowless. Such exposure can hasten the degradation of walls, ceilings, and foundations, leading to long-lasting damage that would necessitate far more extensive repairs in the future. More critically, this situation raises concerns for students’ health and safety, as rainwater infiltrates classrooms, creating damp and unsanitary conditions.
The scenario in Kiskon-Paddi village, where only two students attended school on the first day, illustrates parental concerns regarding safety and infrastructure neglect. Parents choosing not to send their children to schools with rundown structures, poor facilities, and unresolved issues related to mobile towers and accessibility reflects a diminishing trust in government commitments. If the government genuinely intends to enhance the quality of education aligned with the NEP’s objectives of inclusive and comprehensive development it must first exude confidence in its infrastructure and administrative efficacy.
What steps should be taken moving forward? Firstly, the processes for school repairs and maintenance need to be aligned with seasonal patterns. All procedures — tenders, inspections, approvals — must be complied with ahead of school closure. Appoint more contractors, instead of allocating work to a few, so that it is expedited. This proactive strategy would enable schools to function in safe and suitable environments when classes commence in June. Secondly, oversight mechanisms should be intensified to guarantee timely completion, incorporating penalties for delays and accountability measures for contractors.
The government must make a paradigm shift from a reactive to a proactive approach. It must understand that infrastructure is fundamental to quality education and neglecting it undermines reforms and the wider vision of the NEP. While the government boasts of grandiose plans for education, elementary education is being treated with sheer mediocrity.
