One-third of govt primary schools have poor pupil-teacher ratio

Zero enrolment in one school

Padmavati Prabhu

Panaji: Nearly one-third of government schools at elementary level in Goa have an adverse pupil-teacher ratio (PTR), the project approval board (PAB) for Samagra Shiksha, a scheme of the Union education ministry, has noted.

The PAB has suggested that Goa has to ensure rationalisation of schools and ensure that there is sufficient number of teachers in all schools especially at elementary level.

Speaking about the high number of schools with adverse PTR, state project director for Samagra Shiksha Dr Shambhu Ghadi said, “As per the Centre, the PTR ratio followed is 30:1 while that of Goa is 25:1. As a result, Goa is shown to have high number of government schools at elementary level with adverse PTR.”

The minutes of a PAB meeting said that as per the presentation shared, out of the total 814 government schools in the state, one school is with zero enrolment, 624 schools are with less than 50 enrolments, and 235 single teacher schools. “In addition, the number of schools with adverse PTR at the elementary level is 32.73%,” the meeting disclosed. 

The school education and literacy secretary has suggested that the state needs to ensure rationalisation of schools and ensure sufficient number of teachers in all school, especially at the elementary level, it said.

The PAB meeting was held on January 19 in New Delhi for considering the annual work plan and budget (AWP&B) 2024-25 for Samagra Shiksha for the state.

As far as the vacancies in teacher education institutes are concerned, the PAB minutes  stated that there is high vacancy of academic positions as per the state sanctioned posts in the State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) at 73.33% and district institutes of educational training (DIETs) at 79.17%.

The PAB meeting called for filling up of the vacant posts at the SCERT and DIETs on priority basis so as to strengthen the institutions, which play an important role in empowering teachers.

It was also informed that the release of funds under the DIETs of excellence scheme will be contingent upon the filling up of the vacancies by June 30, 2024, said the minutes.

The PAB minutes also said the state has reported display of photographs of teachers in 798 government schools i.e., 98.03%.

“As per the third CS conference to address the issue of proxy teachers and teacher absenteeism, the state was urged to ensure that photographs of all the teachers are displayed and updated in all schools,” the meeting said.

Dr Ghadi said that of the 235 teachers, 126 have already joined service and steps have been initiated to carry out recruitment for DIET.