MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that if Higher Secondary Schools deny admission to students living within 3 km radius of the school, then the government will not hesitate to take action against the HSS.
“At least 20 per cent of seats have to be reserved for students living within a 3 km radius of the HSS. Even if the students have a minimum eligible percentage these HSSs have to give them admission in the school,” said Sawant, who is also the Education Minister.
He said the students who are denied permission should lodge a complaint with the education department for the government to act.
The issue came up for discussion during the Question Hour when Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar said that most students were forced to take admission in faraway HSSs due to paucity of schools in Salcete.
Intervening in the discussion, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said many HSSs gave admission to only creamy students who scored 80 per cent and above thus depriving admission to students residing near the HSS but having scored only 50 per cent.
“This is happening everywhere. Educational institutes prefer bright students but deprive admission to average ones who may be living near the school. So, the students staying near the HSS have to travel to other schools far away from their homes. This should not happen,” Kamat said.
The CM informed that there were nine HSSs in Salcete and therefore there was no possibility of starting another HSS in the taluka.
“Not a single child has remained without admission. Besides, we have also allowed vertical mobility for students studying in ITIs and even for those who have taken up vocational courses,” he said.
