'Schools still using dated teaching methods' - The Times of India

Two years have passed since the Bharatiya Jain Sangathana conducted a study on the quality of schooling in Goa, but the directorate of education(DoE) is yet to prepare a roadmap to improve infrastructure in Goa schools. The study, which was conducted in collaboration with the state government, pointed the lack of security systems in schools. It also drew attention to poor maintenance of toilets and lack of playgrounds.

The state government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the BJS to conduct a survey on the quality of schooling in Goa.

The study was submitted in early 2009, and the Goa government was to prepare a roadmap to improve the quality of schooling based on the report's findings. However, little progress has been made on the front. The BJS recommendations described how "an alarming 90% of high schools and higher secondary do not have sufficient safety and security systems like compound wall, fencing, fire extinguishers, and safety in laboratories. "Wherever they exist, they are inadequate and insufficient. In most of the schools, first aid facility is inadequate," the report said.

The report had recommended an immediate need to review and upgrade the safety and security measures in all schools in Goa. The study also stated that 40% of schools have inadequate and poor state of toilets. Maintenance of the toilets is very poor. Above 50% schools have common toilets for staff and students. A proper system with constant monitoring of cleanliness of the toilets is essential. Immediate provision for sufficient number of taps and supply of water," the report said.

It was found that most high schools and higher secondary schools provided non potable water to the students and 42% of schools had insufficient number of taps and supply of drinking water. The tanks storing the potable water were also found to be unclean.

It was seen that around 27% schools in Goa had no playgrounds and about 45% had very small playgrounds which had uneven surface making it almost unusable. "This was more relevant to privately managed schools," said the study. The BJS report recommended that schools without playgrounds could lease a nearby plot or provide indoor sports facilities to its students. The report revealed that about 80% of the private school management members had never or rarely attended any orientation programme on education. However, they did show interest to attend such programmes, said the study.

The report suggested workshops on creative teaching methods for teachers and a system where the school head can encourage the use of available teaching aids. This was recommended as it was found that teachers in high schools and higher secondary schools were unaware of the use of non-conventional teaching aids. "A towering 77% of schools use stereotyped methods of teaching, leaving very little scope for interactive, experimental teaching. These schools also lack creativity in their teaching methods," said the study.

Despite the serious nature of some of BJS recommendations, government officials confirm that very little has been done to draw the promised roadmap as per the MoU signed to improve of the inadequacies pointed out by the report.