File photo of the state-of-art Government Primary school at Tuem.
After repeatedly failing to secure decent enrolment in students over the last few years, Government Primary Schools (GPS) in the State have now staged a remarkable comeback and have begun registering a growing numbers of students.
According to officials, there has been a significant increase of students across GPSs in Bicholim, Pernem, Sanguem, Salcete and Sattari talukas.
In recent years, a number of GPSs have been shut down due to inadequate number of students on account of different reasons, including poor infrastructure and facilities, poor teaching system and the attraction of private schools. This had compelled authorities to relocate students to neighbouring schools.
However, there has been a remarkable turnaround and the student enrolment figures at GPSs have improved to a large extent.
This turnaround, explained sources in the education department, has been largely due to a number of corrective steps.
“Teachers in Mormugao taluka have been successful in ensuring the required number of students to run the school,” informed a source in the education department.
“There has also been an increase in students attending GPSs in Pernem, Bicholim, Sanguem, Sattari and Salcete talukas as compared to last year. The situation is also good at GPSs in Canacona taluka.”
“Zonal Education Officers make frequent visits and review the methods of education imparted in these GPSs.”
“Focus is given on mid-day meals to ensure it is of good quality, while priority is also given to quality of education and facilities. These are some reasons for the rise in number of students in GPSs,” the source added.
When contacted, Director of Education Gajanan Bhat said overall the situation of the GPSs has improved.
“It is clear that in the last few years, the results of government schools have been comparatively better than that of private schools, due to which the standards have been increasing in government schools,” explained Bhat.
“Since government schools are providing comparable or even better infrastructure and facilities than private schools, a growing number of people are now opting for government schools,” he added.
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Since government schools are providing comparable or even better infrastructure and facilities than private schools, a growing number of people are now opting for government schools------------------------------------------------------------------
- Gajanan Bhat,
Dir of Education
ONLY 7 SCHOOLS FACE
CLOSURE NEXT YEAR
PANAJI: At a time when around 20 government primary schools were being shutdown each year over two academic years, the number has now dropped to just seven schools on the verge of closure due to inadequate student enrolment.
According to data, there were 800 government primary schools in 2015-16 and this number dropped to 781 in 2016-17 and 757 in 2017-18.
At present, only seven schools run the risk of being shut down and they are located at Altinho-Panaji and Devgi-Chorao (Tiswadi) and five schools in Ponda taluka.
However, the education department has been making efforts to save these schools from closure during this academic year.
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GRADUAL DECLINE
YEAR….....…..GPSs
2015-16…….800
2016-17…….781
2017-18…….757
2018-19…….750 (estimated)
