Say move adversely affected development of students
Gaondongrim GHS PTA Chairman Ulhas B Gaonkar, School Management Committee President Shrikant Gaonkar along with other parents speak to media persons outside the school.
CANACONA
Parents have threatened to boycott the Government High School (GHS) at Gaondongrim when the school reopens in the first week of June, if authorities fail to revoke the transfers of headmaster and physical education teacher and retain them at the school.
Addressing media persons at the Gaondongrim GHS, PTA Chairman Ulhas B Gaonkar along with members and School Management Committee President Shrikant Gaonkar informed that PE teacher Yeshwant Gaonkar has been posted to the Khotigao GHS on working arrangement basis in the middle of the academic year, which has adversely affected the academic and co-curricular development of students.
“Yeshwant Gaonkar is the only local permanent teacher known to contribute to the growth of the school, enabling 24 students to secure positions at athletic competitions, victory in U-17 volleyball (boys) at the district level, and even responsible increasing student enrolment from 120 to 175,” said Ulhas Gaonkar.
“He is, however, posted to another school in a peculiar working arrangement for 6 days a week to GHS Khotigao, which is effectively transferring him out of the school.”
Ulhas Gaonkar added that GHS Headmaster Sagar Velip has rendered remarkable service towards academic and overall development of Gaondongrimin GHS within a short span of six months.
“He is responsible for getting infrastructure like school compound, equipped school with sound system, facilitated 75 bicycles to girls students and constructed toilet-block for girls under SBI CSR initiative,” said Ulhas Gaonkar.
“Instead of recognising his achievements, he has been transferred out of the school at the beginning of academic year, and this has raised concerns amongst parents.”
“If these transfers are not cancelled and both teachers not retained at the Gaondongrim GHS before the reopening of the school, our children will boycott the school. Children will proceed to school on June 6, but will not enter classrooms. If the situation continues, we will admit our children to neighbouring aided or private schools,” warned Ulhas Gaonkar.
The PTA chairman said they have already petitioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio, chief secretary, director of Education, DSYA director, and Sports Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar in this connection.
Former Canacona Councillor and social worker Shubham Komarpant has also extended his support to the PTA of GHS Gaondongrim.
“There should not be political interference to undermine government schools in order to push parents to seek admissions in schools belonging to a particular education society. Not a single government school in Canacona has proper school grounds, while 16 government schools have been closed in Canacona over period of time, and this has only benefitted a particular education society,” said Komarpant.
