PANAJI
Over the last five years, an average of 12 government primary schools in Goa have been closed or merged annually due to low student enrolment. Now, according to information presented on the Floor of the House, 117 more such schools may face closure or merger in the coming years, as student enrolment is less than 10 for the 2025-26 academic year.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, said that in the last five years, 59 government schools have either shut or merged due to zero enrolment. This includes 41 schools being shut and another 19 merged since 2020-21.
In the year 2020-21, total 11 schools were closed down and another ten were merged with the nearby schools. Similarly in 2021-22, eight schools were shut and three went for merger. Ten shut and two merged in 2022-23 while the number of schools shutting down went up to 14 in 2023-24, the year that saw four schools getting merged.
Last academic year, a total seven schools were shut. For the current academic year, total 679 schools are operational of which 117 schools have student enrolment less than ten.
The maximum number of schools with low enrolment are in Sattari (17), Ponda, Dharbandora and Pernem (16 each), Canacona and Sanguem (15 each).
According to the Chief Minister the government schools are shutting as parents prefer private schools. “General tendency of parents is to opt for an aided school which is fully funded by the government,” Sawant told the House.
Sawant said that the Primary Schools are available within a reasonable distance in each village or municipal area. “Government is continuously improving school infrastructure and implementing various schemes to attract students to government-run schools,” he said.
According to rules, there cannot be two primary schools within the radius of one to two kilometers while the three kms radius is for secondary schools.
Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and the opening, closing and rationalisation of schools are within the purview of respective State governments. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides children’s access to elementary schools within the defined area or limits of neighbourhood.
