PONDA
The Assistant District Educational Inspector (ADEI) at Ponda on Wednesday invited wrath from the parents of students studying in Government Primary School (GPS) at Barajan-Usgao, after the ADEI refused to listen to the grievances of the parents.
The parents are demanding additional posting of teachers in the GPS at Usgao.
According to Vishwadatt Prabhu, president of school management committee, there were four teachers in the school, including one male English teacher.
“One teacher is on leave and one is transferred to GPS at Nanus-Usgao, leaving the school with one teacher and one para teacher (English). The one who teaches English doesn't look after other subjects. How will the lone teacher handle 67 students of Std 1 to 4?” Prabhu asked.
There was shortfall of teachers in GPS Barajan only after a teacher was posted to GPS Nanus, a distance of 4 kms, after students from Nanus boycotted classes on Tuesday, demanding more teachers in their school. In Nanus, only one teacher was managing four classes.
On Wednesday morning, parents from Barajan gathered at the ADEI office at Shantinagar-Ponda and put forth their demand before the ADEI. But when two journalists tried to click photos of the meeting, the ADEI objected to it and left her chair and went inside saying: “Why you asked journalists to come here? Now, I will not come out. Did you take permission to click photos?”
The agitated parents said it is government office and anyone can visit it. The parents, comprising mostly women, waited for atleast 20 minutes for the ADEI to come out, but the education department officer didn’t bother to entertain the parents.
Later, a staff came out and told the parents to go out of the office and to wait till the other ADEI, who was on field, returns to the office.
Though parents requested the ADEI to come out, she didn’t turn up and instead said she will never entertain the parents who come with journalists.
After waiting at Shantinagar office, the parents headed to school at Usgao where the other ADEI was taking interview, but by the time parents reached there, she had left the school for Ponda.
Speaking to The Goan, Vishwadatt Prabhu said they will convene a meeting of parents on Saturday and then take the next step. “We are concerned about the future of children. How can one teacher teach all the students?” he questioned.
