MARGAO
Boycott of classes marked Day-one of the new academic year for the government-run primary and high school, Morpirla in Quepem on Monday, with students staying away from classrooms to protest against the dilapidated condition of the school building.
School children along with their parents braved early-morning pre-monsoon showers outside the school premises, but appeared determined to protest the inordinate delay in taking up the renovation and repair work.
Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa and Morpirla deputy Sarpanch Prakash Velip, who joined the protest staged by students and parents wondered how only the Morpirla school and other rural schools in the constituency had been neglected by the government.
Parents told media that they have decided to keep their wards out of the classrooms since the government has failed to honour the promise to renovate the Morpirla Primary and High School.
“The government has only assured the parents that the school will be repaired, but in vain”, remarked a parent.
Another parent pointed out that the school is in a bad condition, saying the leaking roof can even collapse during the ensuing rains.
Quepem MLA said he visited the Morpirla Primary and High school at least six times after becoming the MLA and had even raised the issue on the floor of the House. “We have not come here to indulge in politics. I had raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly, but somehow the schools at Morpirla, Paddi and Khola have not evoked government attention till date”, he rued.
Altone said when the government is hell bent in getting IITs and NITs in Goa, it has no plan to refurbish the existing schools for the benefit of the students.
Saying it is his duty to stand by the beleaguered parents and students in support of their genuine demand for repair and renovation of the school building, the MLA said the parents and students are ready to sit outside the school till the government comes out with a solution.
Morpirla deputy Sarpanch Prakash Velip reminded that Morpirla school has been registering cent per cent results in the last eight years, but lamented that the school building has been neglected and ignored by the authorities.
“Last year, when the school was leaking, the Panchayat had given the school its premises to conduct classes. This year, parents are determined to see that the school is repaired”, he said, while extending support to the protest staged by parents and students.
The Quepem MLA, Morpirla deputy sarpanch and panchayat members joined parents and students in singing the national Anthem. They also shouted Vande Mataram slogans.
