THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Will the long wait for regular and independent heads of government educational institutions finally end in the days ahead?
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday said that all government educational institutes “ right from primary to high schools, higher secondaries and colleges “ will soon get full-fledged, regular, qualified Principals to independently manage these institutions.
He also made a fervent plea for shifting of schools from Margao, Vasco and Ponda, creating traffic bottlenecks, to the city outskirts on the lines of the Cujira school complex, in a phased manner.
Speaking at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art college building of government multi-purpose education complex at Borda on Sunday, the Chief Minister said given that his government has accorded top priority for education, he is aware of the problems faced by the government-run education institutions for want of full-fledged principals. “But, the long wait will be finally over, may be in the days to come as my government has decided to post independent and full-fledged principals to head government schools, higher secondaries and colleges”, he told the gathering.
Parsekar, who also holds the education portfolio, said the government despite all odds has given new and state-of-the-art buildings for its five colleges. “We have spent around Rs 100 crore on these new buildings, upgradation of the government primary schools and construction of new primary buildings to give the best infrastructure to our institutes”, he said.
On the shifting of schools in the cities to the outskirts, Parsekar underlined the need take up shifting of schools at Margao, Ponda and Vasco one at a time given that the exercise land acquisition and allocation of resources. “If we shift schools in one town every five years, we will achieve a lot in decongesting the towns and also provide better infrastructure for the schools”, he said.
In his address, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat complimented the Chief Minister for completing the college building and for realising the dream and vision of former Minister Luis Alex Cardozo.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, in his brief speech, made a plea to the student community to nip in the bud the politics of hate raising its ugly head in the educational campuses. “There ought to be no place for nationalist jingoism. The youth should protect democracy and its institutions, he said, while making a plea to institutions to take care that students, especially hailing from the backward communities, get placements after their education.
Former MLA Damu Naik, who is the advisory chairman of the multi-purpose school complex, underlined the need for good educational infrastructure to take education to greater heights, while Margao Municipal Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai made a fervent plea to the Chief Minister to leave no stone to make Goa an education hub.
Goa University vice-Chancellor Dr Varun Sahini also spoke.
