VALPOI
As many as 18 of the 107 government Marathi primary schools in Sattari could face closure in the next academic year, following an acute shortage of students at these schools.
Plans to shut down or amalgamate schools with less than 10 students has sent alarm bells ringing at these 18 institutions, as they have been struggling to retain students.
All these 18 government Marathi primary schools were set up shortly after Goa's liberation to give a boost to education facilities in rural areas.
The 18 schools which face closure are at Kankire and Murmune (Guleli), Sonus and Bodanwada (Honda), Ghoteli (Keri), Bagwada (Morlem), Gomal (Velguem), Shelap-Khurd (Khotoda), Nagve (Mauxi), Hadode, Nanoda-Bambar, Shelap-Thane, Satre, Uste and Nanoda (Nagargao), Khodye (Bhironda), Bandirwada and Sonal (Sawarde).
Incidentally, four schools at Harizanwada, Padoshe, Betkekarwada and Ovaliye in Thane panchayat were shut down last year over a similar shortage of students.
Voicing concern over the possible closure of these 18 schools in Sattari taluka, local activists have blamed the government for poor infrastructure and poor quality of education in government schools, prompting parents to enrol their children in other schools.
"At one time, these schools were a boon to promote educational development in rural areas. But unfortunately, government authorities have failed to improve facilities in these schools," said Hanumant Parab.
"Many of these schools have been struggling due to water shortage, poor condition of buildings and shortage of teachers. As a result, parents have been compelled to shift their children to other schools and hence, enrolment has reduced at these government schools," Parab added.
Vishwesh Parab also blamed the government for failing to improve facilities at these schools.
"The government's inability to improve the quality of these schools since the last few years has led to this situation and it is fully responsible for the plight of these 18 schools in Sattari taluka," said Parab.
