Govt urged to protect govt primary schools in Pernem
Says in seven schools there are less then nine students
THE GOAN NETWORK
PERNEM
Youth Congress leader Sachin Parab has requested the State government to protect government primary schools in Pernem taluka which are on the verge of closure for want of students.
Speaking to The Goan, Parab said these schools were started by the first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar and the land was given free of cost by the land owners.
“Most of the primary schools are closed and instead of protecting its own primary schools, the government is encouraging its closure by giving permission to private educational institutes to open its primary and KG schools in close vicinity of primary schools,” said Parab.
“There are 75 government primary schools in Pernem taluka. Schools at Sagwan-Vazri and Bandirkhan-Tuem are closed this year. Up until 2012, 10 private primary schools were getting government grants, but now the number has reached 22,” he said.
He said there are a number of reasons for closure of government primary schools. “One reason is giving permission to private organisation to start their school at a little distance from government school.”
“The Balrath scheme is not applicable to government schools. Most of the private schools avail this Balrath bus to bring students from other villages. These buses are also used for transportation of KG, pre-primary and primary school students, although Balrath scheme is not applicable to them.”
“If a teacher from government primary school takes childcare leave, then a substitute teacher is not sent. In private schools, temporary teachers are appointed.”
“As private school managements collect students from their doorstep and reach them back safely, parents send their children in private schools other than in government primary schools.
When the Pernem ADEI office was contacted, it was informed that this year there is a slight increase in students. In some schools there are over 60 students and in seven schools, there are less then nine students.
