I would not too caught up worrying about Portugal ... there is
absolutely no way that a colonial past of 50 or 100 years ago impacts
the steep high school dropout situation in Goa today. Consider this
fact: The higher education rate (college, university degrees, and post
graduate degrees ) in, second, third and forth generation Goan diaspora
is likely close to 100%. In many cases these families faced far tougher
times in getting reestablished. Having said this... there are many paths
to success. Most of the computer programers I meet are self taught. In
North American and Europe there is a large vocational, apprentice and on
the job training stream. The entire transportation industry (except
largely aviation) is based on on the job training. As are sectors as
divergent as agriculture and say, entertainment and sports. Most
military personnel below the rank of officer are trained on the job.
Given opportunity, most Goans will thrive. Most are not limited by a
disposition somehow vaguely connected to Portuguese system of rule.
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Goa has high school dropout rate of 28%
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Goa-has-high-school-dropout-rate-of-28/articleshow/33092240.cms
TNN | Apr 2, 2014, 01.26 AM IST
PANAJI: The small area and numbers Goa has to deal with has helped the
state make enviable achievements in education indices. But Planning
Commission's data shows that the state still ranks a not-so-impressive
seventh among states and union territories of India with a dropout rate
from Class I to X of 28%.
Presumably backward states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have fared
better than the coastal state in the Planning Commission data with a
dropout rate of 19% and 24%, respectively. Puducherry flaunts the best
figure with just 6% of its students dropping out of the schooling system.
Planning Commission statistics are based on data of 2010-11 and
academics believe that Goa's dropout rate will reduce with the Right to
Education's no-fail policy having been introduced from 2010 onwards that
prevents detention of students up to Class VIII.
Ramesh Gauns, a former advisor to the Goa government in the education
sector, feels that the state's current high dropout rate can be largely
attributed to a floating migrant population in Goa which has been on the
rise over the years.
"According to the 2001 census, Goa's migrant population was 18% and it
has been more or less consistent with the dropout rate figures. These
migrants mostly come to Goa to work as labourers and vendors and their
children leave school to work as skilled or unskilled labourers after
completing Class VIII or attaining the age of 14. Also, these workers
come to Goa only to earn money and many leave after a certain period
which could show the discontinuation in their child's education," Gauns
said.
He said that a 28% dropout rate is a matter of serious concern and
causes for it need to be explored further. "It is of concern especially
as the dropout rate continues to be high despite interventions like the
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan," he said.
Educationist Prabhakar Timble agreed with Gauns that dropping out from
school mostly takes place in the higher classes like Class IX and X.
"In my view, we have a diluted syllabus and a diluted evaluation system,
yet many children are unable to cope with it. The figure of 28% seems
big, but those working in the education sector agree that there is a 20
to 22% dropout from Class V to X. I am told that around 10% leave mostly
to work as drivers and in Goa's tourism sector in the lower rungs. These
are students who leave voluntarily. It is the other 10% who leave
involuntarily who can be reclaimed with changes in our education
system," Timble said.
He believes that vocationalization of education can retain these 10% in
schools. "By vocationalization I mean training the children in
job-oriented skills and not just introduction of one vocational subject.
This will help as not all children are cut out for the general formal
education system," Timble said.
--
Albert Peres
[email protected]
416.660.0847 cell
