CANACONA
Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar has claimed that many schools across the State have also been left waiting, as the State government is yet to decide on applications for new classes in the mother tongue.
Admitting that parents of Nirmala Convent Pre-Primary School at Mastimoll-Canacona had met him to intervene in getting government
permission to start Std I (Konkani medium) from next the academic year, Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said he could not do much in the matter.
“We have to wait for the government’s policy decision in the matter,” admitted Tawadkar.
“It’s not the question of the Canacona school alone, but similar applications from all over the State, including one from a ruling MLA, are pending with the government,” Tawadkar told The Goan on Tuesday.
“Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who also holds the education portfolio, will have to decide in the matter,” he added.
Incidentally, Tawadkar runs the Balram Education Society, which operates one higher secondary, one residential high school, two primary schools and three pre-primary schools in the taluka.
The minister sought to dispel a growing anxiety among parents and the school management over the government’s delay in granting permission to the pre-primary school.
“Permissions can come even at the eleventh hour,” said Tawadkar.
“In some cases, permissions were given even on the day that the school opened for the new academic year. Even in our case, permission to start a new stream in our higher secondary came late and we had to keep students guessing till the last moment,” admitted Tawadkar.
“Nirmala Convent School missed the opportunity during the 2015-16 academic year, when permissions were given randomly to those applying within a stipulated time limit. Their request came late and could not be processed,” he said.
Tawadkar opined that educational institutes are quite saturated in the State and said the government needs to take cautious approach for opening another institute.
“During his stint as chief minister, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had stated that the State should avoid opening new schools, as closing of government schools and permitting new schools to be aided by government would put additional financial burden on the State,” recollected Tawadkar.
“Surplus government teachers with 20-25 years service cannot simply be sent home if the student strength in that particular school drops. But their services need to be continued, while also paying the salaries of teachers from the newly permitted aided schools.”
The 30-year-old Nirmala Convent Pre-Primary School had sought permission to start Std I in Konkani medium, after 125 parents had submitted a petition to the school .
