the goan I network
PANAJI
After dithering for several days inspite of shutting down schools and colleges, the State government’s department of Higher Education finally permitted teachers and non-teaching staff of colleges to ‘work from home’ until March 31.
However, there was no formal circular issued by the Education Department on the same lines permitting teachers and other staff of schools and higher secondary schools although Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the ‘work from home’ norm would also apply to
them.
Sawant, who also holds education portfolio, made the announcement at a press conference he addressed at the State Secretariat on Saturday evening where he appealed to Goans to stay home as far as possible.
“All educational institutions coming under the purview of Higher Education, including Goa University, government and aided Colleges, shall remain closed from March 23 to 31,” the circular issued by Director of Higher Education, Prasad Lolienkar said.
Lolienkar also said the teaching and non-teaching staff are advised to work from home as per the requirement of the concerned institution.
Earlier last week, the State government had ordered a lockdown of the academic sector from midnight on Sunday-Monday right up to March 31.
Adhering to the government directive, the education department issued the notification shutting schools but asked teachers and non-teaching staff to continue to report to work and remain present on campuses.
Initially, the lockdown had exempted the conduct of examinations already scheduled.
However, later the department did away with the examinations for classes I to VIII as for these classes, the State follows a ‘mass promotion’ policy.
The HSSC (Class XII) examinations scheduled by GBSHSE on March 21, 23 and 24, also stand postponed indefinitely, Director of Education Vandana Rao said in a second circular she issued.
Rao also clarified that a final decision on the SSCE schedule will be conveyed by March 29.
