NT Reporter
Panaji
Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in Goa came under sharp scrutiny in the Legislative Assembly as MLAs from both ruling and opposition benches highlighted delays, disparities, and infrastructural shortcomings across schools in the state.
Raising the issue, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao questioned the government’s claims on NEP implementation in Classes 9 and 10, stating that textbooks aligned with the new curriculum had not yet been introduced. He also flagged critical shortages in laboratories, libraries, computer access, and student-teacher ratios that violate RTE norms.
He said the policy promises physical education with a practical focus from Class 3 onwards, but in practice, there are no appointed coaches, and only sanctioned PE teachers are being used. According to Alemao, skill-based learning has been reduced to theoretical content, defeating the purpose of the NEP’s emphasis on real-world exposure.
Concerns were also raised over unaided schools, with Fatorda GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai stating that the education department lacks even basic data about their curriculum or faculty. He said teachers in these institutions are paid between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000—less than what bus drivers earn—and are denied job security and benefits. “How can we implement NEP when we don’t know who is teaching, what is being taught, and how much teachers are being paid?” he asked.
Sardesai also said there is exploitation of part-time instructors in physical education, art, and work education. He said these instructors earn just Rs 25,000 a month even after over a decade of service, while regular Trained Graduate Teachers receive Rs 90,000. He demanded that their pay be raised to Rs 45,000-Rs 50,000 along with benefits like PF and medical insurance.
Attention was drawn to aided institutions, where over 1,100 contractual teachers are facing salary delays. Sardesai demanded that all contract teachers serving for more than three years be regularised.
Inspection gaps in aided schools and absence of audits were flagged by Margao BJP MLA Digambar Kamat, who said poor digital infrastructure in government primary schools and patchy teacher training could hinder effective NEP implementation.
Data presented by St Andre RGP MLA Viresh Borkar revealed that 50 primary schools have closed in the last five years, with 1,018 students shifting to private schools since 2024. He said 347 teacher posts remain vacant, 646 schools lack smart classrooms, 553 have no upgraded libraries, 704 lack laboratories, and 326 have no playgrounds. He also said that Bal Rath drivers and conductors have not received salaries for the past four months.
Inclusion of students with disabilities was raised by Vasco BJP MLA Krishna Salkar, who urged the government to resume training courses for special educators, stating this would support the creation of resource rooms. Recognition of the Konkani script within the NEP framework was sought by Velim AAP MLA Cruz Silva. He also asked how NEP would be implemented in Class 11 and what changes would be made to popular streams such as Arts, Commerce, and Science.
Equal treatment for students in unaided schools was demanded by BJP’s Curchorem and Sanvordem MLAs Nilesh Cabral and Ganesh Gaonkar, respectively, who questioned why government schemes like textbook distribution exclude unaided schoolchildren despite having 2,331 students enrolled.
