PANAJI
In order to boost student enrolment in government-run primary schools, which are facing closure due to low admissions, the State is considering extending ‘Bal Rath’ facility across 600-odd schools. The facility was introduced in 2013 to provide proper transportation for students of Classes V to X studying in aided schools.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has submitted a detailed proposal “scheme to provide transport facility to government primary schools” to the Chief Minister for approval. The scheme aims to cater to the needs of government primary schools by providing proper transportation facilities to students, especially in the rural areas, apart from strengthening the educational infrastructure.
Sources confirmed that the proposal has been forwarded to the government based on the directions issued by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, whose intention is to ensure that maximum number of students enroll in government-run primary schools.
Sawant had acknowledged that government schools are shutting down in the state due to Bal Raths as they are involved in ferrying students even beyond ten-km radius.
On an average 12 government primary schools are either shut or merged due to nil or poor enrolment in the State. As per the data provided in the Assembly, in the last five years, 59 government schools have either shut or merged due to zero enrolment.
The government has already announced that it will not grant any further Bal Rath facilities to government-run aided schools. Currently, 410 Bal Raths are operational for these aided schools.
The DoE provides aid of Rs 4.7 lakh per bus annually to the schools towards the payment of drivers (Rs 17,000), attendants (Rs 10,000) and towards maintenance of the bus. There is also a five per cent annual hike.
