I think the comments on the full-day school issue could well be premature,
since a decision on this doesn't seem to have yet been taken. While Percy
has his right to his views, the fact of the matter remains that this is a
widely-debated issue. Some educationists are in favour of this full-day
school, while the teachers' lobby might have the most to loose.
The issue is not cut-and-dry as made out to be. As far as I know, as a
parent of a student in school in Goa, there is no move to implement
full-day classes immediately. So where's the question of blaming the
governor? Schools start in Goa on June 6, and in all probability a
decision on this would be taken later by an elected government.
(Needless to say, not all decisions taken by elected governments are sound
ones. Today, whether its the Congress or the BJP, every party seems to be
going out of its way to justify the further bloating of Goa's
already-bloated bureaucracy -- of course, there are votes at stake here.
When it comes to issues like the computer teachers, no party is willing to
ask whether any corruption or dubious decision was involved in hiring the
firm that paid the teachers a pittance... and the teachers now are asking
to be absorbed as government-aided or government employees!)
In the case of full-day schooling, the issue needs to be decided by
educationists. As of now, schools in Goa are used from approx 8 am to 1
pm, and are kept empty for much of the rest of the day -- a collosal waste
of resources which a society like ours can hardly afford.
Teachers have got involved in a whole range of side businesses -- from
being insurance agents, to be part-time journalists -- not that this is
bad in itself, but their prime commitment should be to teaching. Of
course, there are a number of good and committed teachers, but their ranks
seem to be declining; much like that of committed persons in other
careers.
Education needs to be student-centric; and decisions need not be made on
the basis of how these affect the teachers, educators, parents, etc. Do we
have our students interest in mind? Just the other day, an educator was
lamenting the way in which the Goan student has, in many cases, become
unable to face competition. Even over the CET (Common Entrance Test)
issue, politicians are quick to take the populist/easy way out.
Apparently, in Goa, a whole lot of the syllabus has been continually
deleted, to make it easier and ensure a higher pass percentage -- after
all, teachers have to be kept in jobs. But what is the impact of such a
policy when it comes to the competitiveness of students? FN
..........................................................................
Frederick (FN) Noronha | Freelance Journalist | Mobile +91 9822 122436
Tel +91.832.2409490 | http://fn.swiki.net | http://www.bytesforall.net
..........................................................................
