NT Reporter
Panaji
MLAs called for an end to the contractual system for teacher appointments, replacement of ageing Bal Raths (school buses), and urgent improvements in school infrastructure.
During a discussion on demands for education, calls were made to allow part of the Rs 100 crore constituency development funds to be spent on school facilities.
“We want to utilise part of these funds to develop infrastructure of aided, non-aided and government schools. Please allow us,” said Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, who also pressed for a centralised college admission system, regularisation of non-teaching staff, and teacher training in robotics and AI. “Invest on teachers…teacher training in robotics and AI is important,” he said.
Concerns were also raised over teacher shortages, particularly in English language education.
Poriem MLA Deviya Rane pointed out that Sattari has 99 government primary schools but only 25 trained English teachers, with one teacher covering up to four schools. She urged immediate appointments to address this gap.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar described cramped and unhygienic conditions in anganwadis and proposed shifting them to vacant classrooms in government schools. He and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo reiterated the need to replace the 15-year-old Bal Rath buses, citing maintenance problems and safety concerns.
“It becomes difficult to maintain the buses, causing breakdowns causing inconvenience to students,” said Amonkar. He also urged a waiver of penal interest for education loan defaulters from the Goa Education Development Corporation, saying many failed to repay due to unemployment after the Covid pandemic. Lobo said that vacancies created by retiring teachers should be filled with permanent appointments rather than contractual hires.
She also called for career guidance from Class 7 to 10 and the appointment of full-time counsellors in schools.
