PONDA
He was responding to the State government's reply to a question in the assembly that 13 government primary schools in Goa are labelled as ‘dangerous' to students and teachers, while 20 school buildings do not have an adequately maintained roof or ceiling.
Incidentally, nine of the 13 ‘unsafe' schools are located in Ponda taluka which has a total of 114 government primary schools.
According to sources, roof leakages during the monsoon have posed a problem to these nine schools in Ponda taluka.
Commenting on the condition of the unsafe government primary schools, Bhat said: "We are taking up the issue and GSIDC has already been informed of the same as maintenance works of our school buildings are carried out by the Corporation. These schools will be repaired."
Ponda taluka also has the most number of government primary schools (82) without playgrounds, but finding land for playgrounds has not been easy.
"If open spaces belonging to the government are available, the sports department takes the initiative to build playgrounds," Bhat said.
Noted educationist and the education department's former deputy director Kalidas Marathe told The Goan that Zilla Panchayats should be given the responsibility to monitor the maintenance work of schools.
"Everything cannot happen from Panaji. This problem can be solved if the responsibility is entrusted to zilla panchayats to monitor the maintenance of schools," he said.
