Ready to start new Konkani school if any MLA can get 20 students, says Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Porvorim: After Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Monday said in the House that eight of 12 talukas today don’t have a single Konkani school operational, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that if any MLA can bring 20 students from an area for a Konkani medium school, then state govt will start a new school there.“Everyone wants to speak about Konkani, but they ultimately admit their children to English schools. If any existing school wants to start a Konkani medium school, then we will give them permission without disturbing the existing system. If any MLA can take the initiative and if he is able to get 20 students, then we will start a Konkani medium school without affecting the existing Marathi school,” said Sawant, who also holds the education portfolio.

To another question from Sardesai, the CM said that land allotments to Margao schools to shift to the land earmarked for the school complex in Davorlim will be finalised within the next three months.“Like Cujira, 1 lakh sqm land was acquired in Davorlim. Earlier, five schools were told of the land allotment. Within three months, we will finalise which schools will get land at the school complex,” said Sawant.While Sardesai asked why salaries in some pre-primary schools for teachers are as low as Rs 10,000 a month, Sawant said that the process of registration of pre-primary schools was in progress, and so far, 702 have registered with the state.

“Once inspection of their infrastructure is complete, we will fix salaries to be paid to teachers of pre-primary schools,” he said.The CM said that govt-aided schools across Goa have been asked to upgrade their infrastructure in line with the National Education Policy requirements, while work has begun to provide facilities for all extracurricular activities and skill training in govt schools.Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira asked why Goa govt has prescribed higher number of instructional hours than those recommended in the NEP.Sawant said that the hours are not only classroom hours, but also include the learning done by a child at home, including projects and assignments. “Once the NEP is fully implemented in the state, we will do a comparative chart between the old and new system. Under NEP, there is no rote learning, but activity-driven and experiential learning. We have started hands-on activity and project learning and promoting joyful and experimental learning,” he said.