Data: Nearly 25% govt primary schools closed in last 10 years

The closure attributed to nil enrolment

Panaji : Nearly 25 per cent of government primary schools have been closed in the last decade due to nil enrolment, the state government data revealed.

The number of government primary schools in the state declined  from 906 in the academic year 2014-15 to 694 in 2024-25.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) said the enrolment position in government primary schools has been reviewed from time to time.

“The decline in enrolment, even after the implementation of NEP, has been attributed to factors such as migration to urban areas, parents preferring aided or unaided schools for various reasons and the use of balrath buses by aided schools to ferry primary school children,” DoE said.

The directorate said the government is continuously improving school infrastructure and implementing various schemes like mid-day meal (PM-POSHAN), providing free textbooks, notebooks, school uniforms and raincoats.

Additionally, Yog education, value education and enhancement of civic engagement are being taken up through Goa Education Development Corporation.

DoE also said constant interactions with PTA members are being held to encourage them to convince parents to take up admission in the ‘present school’.

The government also said the funds allocated under the central scheme – Goa Samagra Shiksha – have been utilised for bolstering elementary education with main emphasis on the quality improvement of government primary and middle schools.

The funds have also been used for strengthening secondary education with focus on quality improvement of government secondary and higher secondary schools through different interventions including ICT, smart classrooms, NSQF facilities, etc., in addition to the capacity building training of teachers on academic processes, development and teaching learning materials, etc.