Private unaided schools learn it the hard way
VASCO: The state government's decision to provide financial assistance to the government-funded English medium schools has resulted in a 25% decline in admissions to private unaided schools and as such they are finding it difficult to sustain themselves, said Madhavi Kamat, secretary of the All Goa government recognized unaided schools association (AGGRUSA) at a meet held in Vasco on Thursday.
The vice-chairman of the association, S A Shakoor voiced similar concerns and said injustice was being meted out to the students in private unaided schools as they are deprived of benefits such as laptops, tabs, free textbooks, sports items among others.
"It has now been decided that under the direction of National independent schools association (NISA), the teachers will be provided common training of innovative methods in teaching so as to provide better education to the students," the vice-chairman said.
Former president of the association, Deepak Khaitan said there is a confusion prevailing over the age of admission as under central act it is fixed at 6 yrs while in the state it is five-and-half years. The issue needs to be resolved on a priority basis, he said.
On teachers' eligibility test, he said the state should come out with an appropriate policy. The central teachers' eligibility test (CTET) should not be made mandatory to Goan teachers as they armed with a degree in education, he added.
However, the AGGRUSA president Vijay Shetti emphasized that they were not opposed to the RTE Act but instead sought amendments, wherever possible. Since education was a state subject, the concerned state authorities should be permitted to suggest and make changes to the act.
"If we follow the RTE Act in letter and spirit, then none of the government schools will be able to function owing to lack of infrastructure. There are certain provisions in the act that are not applicable to all states like the 'no detention rule' applicable for a student till Class 8 due to the extreme stress they suffer thereby forcing them to suicide. But they ought to be more competitive and improve their performances," he said, adding, "The act speaks of inputs and not the output, it should have based the salary of the teachers on their performances. The main goal should have
been of improving the quality of education."
The meeting was held under the guidance of Rohan Joshi, associate director of NISA.
Read the story on The Times of India website.