PANAJI
Amidst the ongoing medium of instruction imbroglio, the State Education Department has granted approval to open six new primary schools in regional languages from the academic year 2016-17, while rejecting all applications for starting new primary schools in English medium.
However, the Department is yet to take a decision on four applications for opening two Marathi medium and two Konkani medium schools.
The Department had received 33 applications from schools/educational societies for commencing new primary schools. Of the 33 applications received, 10 were for opening Konkani medium schools, nine for English, eight for Urdu, five for Marathi and one for bilingual (English/Marathi).
As far as new Konkani medium primary schools are concerned, of the 10 applications that were submitted, three have been granted permission and five have been rejected, while the Department is yet to decide on two others.
Of the five applications that were filed to start Marathi medium primary schools, two have been granted permission, one has been rejected, while no decision has been taken on two other proposals.
Regarding Urdu primary schools, a total of eight applications were received, only one school has been granted permission while the other seven have been rejected.
On the other hand, the Department has rejected all 10 applications to start new English medium primary schools. However, one educational society, whose application was rejected, has requested the department to reconsider its application to open a Konkani medium primary school.
Speaking to The Goan, Education Director Gajanan Bhat said, “We have granted permissions only to schools in regional languages mainly aiming at promoting them. We are yet to decide on four schools. We are likely to take a call on them within this week.”
After the Department received the applications to open new primary schools, it had sought a feasibility report from the respective ADEIs.
“The applications have been rejected as there are existing schools in the vicinity which can accommodate students,” he said.
****NUMBERS THAT COUNT
Konkani 10 3 5 2
Marathi 5 2 1 2
English 9 - 9 -
Urdu 8 1 7 -
Bilingual 1 - 1 -
Pirnagram Seva Mandal’s Shree Shantadurga Vidyamandir, Konkani
Pirna-Bardez
Shree Brahmanand Sanskrit Prabodhini’s Swami Brahmanand Marathi
Tapobhoomi Vidyalaya, Kundaim-Ponda
Alorna Education Society’s Alorna Panchakroshi Primary School Marathi
Alorna-Pernem
Sri Vijayanand Saunstha’s Primary School, Mayem Konkani
Ahale-Sunnat Jamatul-Muslameen Trust’s Ahale-Sunnat Urdu
Jamatul Muslameen School, Pilliem-Dharbandora
Good Shepherd Educational Society’s Good Shepherd Primary Konkani
School, Badem Vaddo, Salvador-du-Mundo
The Education Department has requested students of primary schools, who could not get admission, to register their names along with address and contact number in the respective zonal educational offices.
The offices include Central Educational Zone, Panaji; North Educational Zone, Mapusa and South Educational Zone, Margao.
The Director of Education will make necessary arrangements for admission of these students in one of the schools in their respective zones where vacant seats are available.
