PANAJI
The incessant showers that caused significant disruption to the ongoing school repair works has forced several educational institutions across the State to temporarily relocate to alternative premises including temples and panchayat halls, on the very first day of the new academic year that commenced from Wednesday.
Taking serious note, the Directorate of Education has asked the public works department to prioritize the work.
The task of constructing, reconstructing, repairing, upgrading and maintaining all the government schools in the state is being carried out through PWD.
According to the education department, repair works of around 10-15 schools have been delayed due to the early monsoon. The department also admitted that the repair work by PWD was undertaken in April, following the end of the academic year and based on the reports submitted by the concerned ADIs.
“But I am very proud of our teachers and parents, who took the initiative and decided to shift the classes to alternative premises. In some cases it was temple and in some panchayat hall turned into classrooms,” Director Education Shailesh Zingade told The Goan.
Zingade has personally visited few of the schools to understand the ground reality.
Zingade said that a fortnightly report was sought from PWD since April and the work was on track. “However, the incessant rains that lashed the State in the month of May affected the entire repair work thus delaying it. We cannot blame anyone here,” he said.
“However, we have written to PWD to expedite the work and hand over the school premises to the authorities on priority,” he said adding ‘students safety is our top priority.
PWD has been undertaking all infrastructure works involving government schools, including primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary institutions since 2020. Before that, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Agency was dealing with the refurbishment works.
Sources informed that in the majority of these affected schools, the attendance remained below 50 per cent due to various reasons including students being out of station or still in native village, health grounds, etc.
According to the education department, repair works of around 10-15 schools have been delayed due to the early monsoon. The department also admitted that the repair work by PWD was undertaken in April, following the end of the academic year and based on the reports submitted by the concerned ADIs.
Zingade has personally visited few of the schools to understand the ground reality
Zingade said that a fortnightly report was sought from PWD since April and the work was on track.
PWD has been undertaking all infrastructure works involving government schools, including primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary institutions since 2020. Before that, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Agency was dealing with the refurbishment works
Sources informed that in the majority of these affected schools, the attendance remained below 50 per cent due to various reasons including students being out of station or still in native village, health grounds, etc
