Members of the Goa School Management’s Association addressing the media on their long pending issues. Pic Santosh Mirajkar.
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
The Goa Schools Management Association has warned that they will be forced to take a big step on Goa Revolution Day in the event the government fails to address the long pending grievances plaguing the education sector.
Members of the Association including Pandurang Nadkarni, Prashant Naik and others have also expressed their concern over the proposal to set up two private universities in Betul, South Goa and another at Tivim in North Goa, demanding to know whether the government has conducted any study over the impact these Private Universities will have on the existing Colleges in Goa.
Addressing the media, Prashant Naik has criticised the government for its policy on temporary and contactor basis staff, saying staff working for years are still not getting the permanent status in their respective schools. “This has not happened in the past. We have seen the concept of temporary and contract basis staff despite the schools complying with the guidelines. As per the norms, NOCs were issued for the schools who are eligible to appoint full time staff. This is the first time since Liberation staff is being appointed on temporary and contract basis”, he said.
Saying that it’s now eight months since the Association had sent a mail to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant seeking any appointment to discuss the issue, he said there’s been no response from the government till date. “We will again go to the government with our grievances. If the government does not show interest in resolving the issues faced by the management, we will chalk out the future course of action on Goa Revolution Day on June 18. But, we will meet the Education Secretary, Education Director and the Chief Minister before taking any extreme step”, he said.
On the private universities planned at Betul and Tiivim, Prashant wondered whether the government has conducted any study over the fallout of these two universities on the existing colleges. “Just imagine when these two Universities will enrol around 5000-10,000 students. In such a scenario, what would be its impact on the existing colleges, who are facing enrolment issues”, he questioned.
He further said the government should think twice before withdrawing the Bal Rath bus scheme.
