Ponda ADEI fears 20 more schools may shut
the goan I network
PONDA
According to Ponda ADEI Pushpa Borkar, the number such schools in Ponda taluka was 140 when she joined the office in 2013.
“Last year, the number dropped to 120 and during this academic year, seven more have closed down,” Borkar said.
At present, 113 schools are functioning in Ponda taluka.
The government primary schools at Mapa-Panchwadi, Tarvale-Shiroda, Borim, Agapur, Vadi-Talaulim, Barbhat-Shiroda and Talsai-Borim have been closed down this year.
According to ADEI office, students from Mapa have been relocated to Digas GPS, while Borim students have been admitted at Tishem GPS. Similarly, students from Barbhat are given admission in Shiroda and Agapur students have been moved to the Vadi-Talaulim school.
The schools at Tarvale, Vadi-Talaulim and Talsai were shut only after students from Std 4 were promoted to Std 5. They had no classes from Std 1 to 3, and also, there were no fresh admissions.
According to sources in the education department, the trend of admitting children into private schools has largely affected enrolment in these schools.
“Everyone is sending their children to private schools and hence this problem has occurred,” an officer on condition of anonymity revealed.
The source said the ADEI office now fears that 20 more government primary schools may close down by the next academic year, as each of these 20 schools have less than eight students on
their rolls.
The source informed that all the schools which have been closed down are in good condition. “Parents had no complaints with infrastructure. It is good everywhere, but they are keen to admit their children in other aided schools,” the source said.
