PONDA
At least seven government primary schools face a bleak future in Sancorda, Collem and Kirlapal on account of an acute shortage of students.
The government primary schools at Udhalshe and Panaswada in Sancorda have no students at present, while there are only three students each at the government primary schools in Motoje, Vakikulan and Velipwada in Collem. At Kirlapal, the government primary schools at Kalsai and Saton have only five students each.
There are other schools in the area which could also be shut down due to acute student shortage.
Former students and prominent in Sancorda have been trying their best to keep the Udhalshe government primary school running, which is on the verge of closing down.
There was only one student in Std IV last year. This year, the parents of a student had contacted the teacher for admission, but on the first day the child was absent.
Two non-Goans who are residing in the area are being coaxed to send their children to the school, but if these three parents do not send their children to the school, the school has to be shut down.
Parents prefer to send their wards to private schools in the area.
At Panaswada-Sacorda, the government primary schools building was renovated two years ago but the teacher who used to teach there has retired on May 31.
Dharbandora Block Education Officer Sitaram Naik said the government primary school at Panaswada has been closed currently because there are no students.
In the past few years, many government schools in the Sacorda area have closed down. Among these are the government schools at Dongarwada, Murge and Dharge villages.
