BAILON MASCARENHAS
QUEPEM
The walls of the government primary school at Deulmol in Sirvoi-Quepem has developed major cracks and the PTA is worried that a disaster could strike the school during the monsoon season.
“The Sirvoi GPS is in dire need of urgent repairs before the onset of monsoon to avoid any mishap and loss of life,” said Rajesh Naik, a PTA member, adding the GPS has 29 students, spread over Std 1 (5), Std 2 (4), Std 3 (7) and Std 4 (13).
“Thirteen students of Std IV will pass out this year and there is uncertainty if parents will enroll their children in this school. Some parents are planning to shift their children to neighbouring schools due to concerns over the school building,” said Naik.
Incidentally, Naik was instrumental in encouraging parents from neighbouring houses to send their children to the Sirvoi GPS.
“Parents are upset as this small school is being ignored, while the roof repair work of two bigger government primary schools in Quepem is underway. Although a proposal for repairs was sent for two years in succession, no work has been initiated till now.”
“There are cracks on virtually every wall of the two-classroom building, but the most worrisome one is the huge 2-inch-wide crack across half the front wall.
“The water tank currently exists over this cracked wall which is another cause for worry,” Naik added.
Another PTA member Narayan Ingle added, “Besides cracks on all walls, the wooden battens to fit roof tiles are broken and the roof tiles are falling down, leaving the students exposed to the elements.”
“Even last year, the roof was leaking and rainwater entered the classrooms. The teachers and students were left to fend for themselves throughout the monsoon,” Ingle added.
“Although the PTA has raised issues of safety, all we get is an assurance that the repairs will be done. One close look at this school and one can see the difference between this GPS and other private schools. Such dangerous premises would deter any parent from enrolling their children here,” said Ingle.
A source told The Goan the roof work of 2 GPSs in Quepem are underway and since these two schools are bigger, the contractor has ignored the GPS at Deulmol, Sirvoi.
“The school management is helpless as their requests have not yielded any results and it appears that they are at the mercy of the contractors. If parents refuse to send their children to this school for want of repairs, this will be the end of the GPS at Deulmol-Sirvoi,” the source added.
