Coaching lobbies opposing, 80% students happy: Education secy

Panaji: Education secretary Prasad Lolayekar visited several schools in Tiswadi taluka on Monday on the first day of school academic year to gauge the response of institutes and students about the shift in school start to April, instead of June. He said more than 90% attendance has been recorded across Goa in schools and said that 80% students have expressed no issues with the change in academic schedule. Lolayekar said that those opposing schools in April appear to be from “coaching class lobby”.

“We visited five schools. In most of the schools that I visited in Tiswadi, along with other education department officials, there was 90% attendance. Only one school had attendance slightly above 80%. I interacted with the students and 80% told me that they are happy to return to school in April. There were around 20% who said they wanted holidays in April. I also took feedback from students about NEP and one feedback we got is that they need more sports training facilities and we have taken note of it,” the education secretary said.

“Parents opposing school in April went to the high court and it dismissed the petition after hearing each and every point they had to make. What can one say about the protest? We need to ask them what exactly is the purpose of their protest? It appears to be motivated by different coaching lobbies. We cannot say it for sure, but it appears to be so. They can protest but holding everyone to ransom is not right,” said Lolayekar.

Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education chairman Bhagirath Shetye also visited some schools in Bardez taluka and interacted with students.