Govt mulling over conducting classes for SSC, HSSC students: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

PANAJI: A decision will soon be taken on whether regular classes should be held for SSC and HSSC students. However, with the number of Covid-19 cases rising on a daily basis, no decision has been taken yet about the starting of the new academic year for other classes. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said this on the sidelines of paying tribute to freedom fighters on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day.
Reiterating his government’s concern about SSC and HSSC students, Sawant said, “We will make arrangements to start regular classes through the education department after this pandemic situation subsides. We will come up with a concrete solution on the issue soon.”
Sawant also clarified that the state government has not made online education compulsory as some children will face problems with internet connectivity due to the lack of adequate infrastructure in the state. “Even if some government aided and unaided schools have started online teaching, we don’t want the remaining children to miss the syllabus,” he said.
On the issue of poor internet connectivity, Sawant said that one reason why the state lacks required infrastructure is that often, when mobile companies want to erect their towers, the public opposes the same. “If we have to move ahead, we need to have public participation,” he said
Veering to the Covid-19 situation in the state and reacting to the opposition’s demands that the state’s border be sealed, Sawant said that the borders are being monitored 24X7. “Only Goans are allowed to enter.”