PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that teachers suffering from terminal illnesses will be granted medical leave.
Speaking at the edu-cultural festival ‘Kalagurujan’ organised by the Higher Secondary Teachers Association of Goa (HISTAG), Sawant stated that the government would consider the teachers' demands for medical leave in cases of terminal illness. He added that a circular would be issued following discussions with the State Secretary and the Director of Education.
Allying fears that AI will replace teaching faculty, Sawant, who also holds education portfolio, said teachers need not worry but will have to upgrade their skills and teaching techniques to offer quality education and also be a facilitator. “It is a man-to-man connect that will help youth to make the right choice regarding their careers,” he said.
He urged teachers to adopt and adapt a futuristic approach to education and participate actively in guiding the young students towards rightful career options and opportunities.
“Be aware of the various options, subjects and courses available at all levels of education in the State, and guide your students appropriately at the right time, so that their years are not wasted, and they take admission in the right stream or institute. Having a degree is less important than shaping the career of a child, be it at any stage,” he said.
Stating that Goa has white collared tourism jobs which are mostly acquired by the people from the ‘Seven Sisters’ states, Dr Sawant pointed out that instead of searching for a government job, after graduation or post-graduation, Goan boys and girls can begin with apprenticeships, which gives them exposure to work culture.
ACADEMIC YEAR
HISTAG president Babaji Sawant welcomed the government decision to start the academic year in April. “The government has taken the right decision of starting the schools in April, as the CBSC and ICSE boards start from April. The early start of the academic year will allow students more time for revision. All higher secondary and 12th classes start in April itself. Most schools will get accustomed to the April 10 start,” he said.
SCHOOL CLUSTER
Secretary Education Prasad Lolayekar said that the State will soon go for clustering of schools and higher secondary schools for effective implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
He further explained that no higher secondary school need to start Grade 9 and 10 classes or any secondary school to start 11th and 12th.
“Instead, clustering of schools and higher secondaries will be done, and students can take admission in their cluster. There will not be any change in the physical structure. Clustering will be easier in Goa, as we have legacy school and super school complexes here. The committee headed by educationist Subhash Shirodkar has identified clusters, we will only modify and implement them for administrative purposes,” he said.
The qualifications of the teachers will also remain the same, MA for 11th and 12th and graduation for secondary schools, he added.
The State is looking at 2030 to train all teachers, with tie-ups with top institutes in India. After 2030, all teachers will be trained in the premises.
‘No Detention Policy’
Secretary Education Prasad Lolayekar has said that the government is contemplating not to completely phase out the No Detention Policy but competency level will be checked at Grade 5 & 8.
This will be implemented once the Centre releases the guidelines, he said. He also said that as against the existing trend of each institution framing the question papers, the SCERT board will set common papers for all in line with NEP.
The evaluations will be carried out by the schools, and the purpose of common paper is to maintain uniformity and have checks and balances, Lolayekar added.
