Goa for kids: Shaping young minds

The overall development of a child is the ultimate aim of schooling and lack of cocurricular activities in Goa’s schools, either for lack of time or infrastructure, has meant killing the playfulness of a child during school hours.
Extra curricular activities don’t just serve as a break from studying but shape the young minds mentally and physically.Activities like music, art, drama, sports let the kid discover his/her inherent talent. “A government-funded school must provide amenities like a restroom, playground, different musical instruments, an audio visual room, a computer room. The school where my child studies in Mapusa doesn’t have a big enough playground and it gets crowded at recess.When we pay the schools for the all-round development of our child, we expect more than just basic resources,” a Mapusabased executive and mother of two, said.
Malbhat-resident and a mother of four, Berta Gracias, said, “Two of my daughters study at Fatima Convent, Margao—one in Class VI and the other is in Class X. I am happy with the facilities available at the school for music, craft and sports, including a dedicated basketball ground. Only the school does not have a playground and students have to use the ground of the neighbouring Loyola High School. But the school tries its best to provide the students with ample opportunities.”
Schools across the state are trying to put facilities available to multiple use and work around the lack of infrastructure.
“We don’t have a dedicated music room as yet, so we practise in the class itself. But we do have a table tennis table in our hall and a playground provided by the neighbourhood church.We also have slides and other structures for nursery students,”Olga de Araujo,a resident of St Cruz and a teacher at Our Lady of Remedies High School, Nerul, says.