On July 21, CM Manohar Parrikar, speaking on the floor of the House, asserted that the number of students enrolling in government primary schools has stabilised. "In fact, you can see a slight increase in their number," he stated responding to the fear expressed by RSS leader Subhash Velingkar that around 450 government primary schools would close in the years to come due to lack of students.
As per DoE statistics, the number of students in government primary schools has indeed been on a steady decline - the number has diminished by nearly 9000 in the last five years (aided schools have seen an increase in the number of students by around 9500). In addition, as many as 403 schools, out of 780, have an enrolment of 20 students or less and 21 schools with zero enrolment. The reasons behind this aren't a great mystery either - dilapidated buildings with shoddy infrastructure, poor quality of instruction and education and a marked shortage of teachers and lack of textbooks and other school material plagues most government primary schools.
In contrast, there are two schools with enrolment of over 200 - GPS, Vithalapur in Bicholim and GPS Zuarinagar in Mormugao and 22 with a strength of more than 100 students. Clearly, these few are doing something right. If the government has any hope of keeping these schools up and running, they need to pull up their socks and ensure not only better and improved infrastructure but also evaluate teachers on performance so that quality education is provided to all students.
As per DoE statistics, the number of students in government primary schools has indeed been on a steady decline - the number has diminished by nearly 9000 in the last five years (aided schools have seen an increase in the number of students by around 9500). In addition, as many as 403 schools, out of 780, have an enrolment of 20 students or less and 21 schools with zero enrolment. The reasons behind this aren't a great mystery either - dilapidated buildings with shoddy infrastructure, poor quality of instruction and education and a marked shortage of teachers and lack of textbooks and other school material plagues most government primary schools.
In contrast, there are two schools with enrolment of over 200 - GPS, Vithalapur in Bicholim and GPS Zuarinagar in Mormugao and 22 with a strength of more than 100 students. Clearly, these few are doing something right. If the government has any hope of keeping these schools up and running, they need to pull up their socks and ensure not only better and improved infrastructure but also evaluate teachers on performance so that quality education is provided to all students.
