PANAJI: Stating that much time has been lost by the 17-member committee constituted by the government for the purpose of advising on the issue of giving government grants to 135 English medium primary schools in Goa due to the over-two-month state assembly election-related code of conduct, chairman of the committee Bhaskar Nayak on Tuesday said the committee very much exists, in spite of the change in government, and has got a second extension of 90 days.
Speaking to this daily, Nayak, who is also the director of higher education, said that pending work of the committee pertains to five talukas in South Goa.
“The committee is confident of completing its work, during its second extension, and would present its report to the government once this work is complete,” he added.
When the committee was constituted in July, last year, it was supposed to submit its report with recommendations within 120 days, that is by mid-November. However, failure to do so compelled the previous government to grant it three month extension. When the state assembly election-related code of conduct delayed the work of the committee further, the current Manohar Parrikar government gave another 90-day extension for the panel.
The committee is required to hold extensive consultations with various civic society organisations, including parent-teachers associations, and school managing committees, preferably at taluka level, besides primary schools teachers associations and other teachers associations/ headmasters associations, principals’ forums, aided school management associations, educationists and so on, to ascertain their views on various aspects of the subject. NT
