PANAJI: The Right of Child to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 speaks of a neighbourhood school for every child aged 6 to 14. But Goa’s school density figures have an entirely different story to tell. Goa has only four secondary schools to offer to a population of every thousand students aged between 11 and 14.
Goa’s figure is disheartening as against the national average of seven secondary schools for a population of every thousand students. The gap in availability of schools has been revealed by the latest report of the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry based on a survey carried out by its agency the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA).
The school density in Goa is relatively better at the elementary education level. However, there is scope for to better figures as compared to the figures of most other states. Seven primary schools are available for a population of every thousand students aged 6 to 11 in Goa, as compared to the national average of ten schools.
Statistics reveal that Goa has only one secondary school available every 10km, while one primary school is on offer every 3km.
Section 6 of the RTE Act states, “For carrying out the provisions of this act, the appropriate government and local authority shall establish, within such area or limits of neighbourhood, as may be prescribed, a school, where it is not so established, within a period of three years from the commencement of this act.” This will require mapping of neighbourhoods or habitations and linking them to specific schools, as recommended by RTE.At a RTE review meeting held in January by HRD officials with all state education secretaries, Goa admitted to have not yet undertaken the school mapping exercise made mandatory for states before implementation of provisions of the RTE Act begins.
Goa has earlier also been asked by HRD officials to review its ‘faulty’ policy for opening of new schools. The state was told not to make only distance a criteria for opening new schools and to take ground realities into consideration.
Secondary Schools Per Thousand Population
Meghalaya 22
Himachal Pradesh 17
Arunachal Pradesh 15
Rajasthan 12
Karnataka 10
Gujarat 9
Maharashtra 8
Andhra Pradesh 7
Uttar Pradesh 5
Goa 4
Bihar 3
Delhi 2
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