No appointment orders; confused members
of Shikshan panel fail to meet even once
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ABOUT THE COMMITTEE
* The 20-member committee, which was notified on December 24 last year, has neither had a single meeting since it was constituted, nor its members have received the order regarding their appointment on the committee
* The committee has the Education Director as its member secretary, the other members include Maharashtra-based expert in pre-primary and primary education Ramesh Panse, Goan educationists and representatives of various educational societies
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The Bal Shikshan Mandal, constituted by the State Government to suggest a road map for pre-primary and primary education in the State, seems to be only on paper. The Goan spoke to a few of the members only to learn that they were neither aware of the committee being constituted, nor they had received any order pertaining to their appointment.
Speaking to The Goan from Maharashtra, Ramesh Panse said, “I have come to know about the committee from the people I know. But, during the last one year, neither a meeting has been convened, nor I have received any invitation.”
“I have not received any communication or order with regard to my appointment from Goa Government. On the notification that I have seen, my name is listed first but I do not know if I am the chairman”, he said.
Former Chairman of Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education P R Nadkarni, who is also on the committee, said, “I have not received any order till date about the same as after the members are appointed on the committee, they get an order.”
Another member Dilip Betkikar too said that he had not received any communication from the Directorate of Education regarding the committee.
One of the senior educationists, who is also on the committee, opined that the committee constituted was just an eyewash to show that the government was serious about primary education.
“If the committee is constituted, then why no meeting has been called. The government probably fears that the issue of grants to the English medium primary schools might come up at the meeting”, he said.
However, some of the members were shocked to learn that their names were on the committee.
“I am learning about it now. I have no clues when and why this committee has been constituted. I was not even asked about being a member”, said a member.
Another member said, “Before including our names on the committee, we should be atleast asked about it. Sometimes it is so that people are not interested in being on the committee.”
The committee was constituted by the State Government to look into the various aspects of pre-primary and primary education and provide a road map for development of child education in general and pre-primary and primary education in particular.
Additionally, it was also supposed to examine the current status of pre-primary education in the government sector as well as non-aided institutions in the State. Additionally, the Committee would suggest mechanism to improve enrolment and general measures to upgrade pre-primary and primary education in general in Goa.
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MoI panel has already had 4 hearings,
more on cards; wants 60 days more
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RUNNING AGAINST TIME
* The 17-member ‘advisory committee’ was constituted on July 15, 2016
* Director of Higher Education Bhaskar Nayak is committee chairman
* The committee is required to hold consultations with stakeholders
* It is expected to submit its report within a period of 120 days
* The 120-day term of the committee ends on October 10
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The 17-member advisory committee constituted by the State Government on the Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue is likely to seek extension of 60 days from the State Government.
Speaking to The Goan, a member of the committee informed, “We have had hearings in four talukas and in the next two weeks, hearings have been scheduled in three talukas. Once hearings in all talukas are completed, we will have to compile all the valid recommendations in the form of a report. This will certainly take additional time as the time frame given to the committee ends in the second week of October. We may seek extension of about 60 days from the government to complete the entire process.”
The committee has scheduled the next hearings in talukas of Tiswadi, Quepem and Ponda. On October 14, the hearing for Tiswadi taluka will be held at People’s High School, Panaji; on October 15, the hearing for Quepem taluka will be held at Government Higher Secondary School, Quepem and the hearing for Ponda taluka will be held on October 21 at GVM’s Higher Secondary School, Farmagudi.
Beginning with Pernem, the committee has held hearings across talukas of Sattari and Bicholim.
Speaking about the response at the meetings, another member informed, “In talukas of Sattari, Pernem and Bicholim, people demanded that the grants to the English medium primary schools should be discontinued; while in Bardez there was mixed response from people. Additionally, people demanded that infrastructure facilities should be improved in schools and the issue of schools with single teachers was also raised.”
Once the hearings are completed, these suggestions and recommendations will be discussed at the meetings of the advisory committee.
“Once we finalise on the relevant suggestions and recommendations, these will be compiled in the form of a report and submitted to the State Government may be by November”, he informed.
