Panaji: Even though govt schools make up more than half of all schools in Goa, they account for only 13.7% of total student enrolment, prompting Centre to ask the state to conduct a detailed analysis and take corrective measures to restore confidence in govt schools.During a review of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Goa last month, the Project Approval Board (PAB) noted that the state is not “optimally utilising” its govt schools. The Union education ministry said govt schools constitute 52.7% of Goa’s 1,479 schools (780 schools), but enrol only 41,217 students out of a total 3,00,546. In contrast, aided schools enrol 2,18,183 students, or 72.6% of the total, and account for 62.3% of all teachers in the state.The review also highlighted low enrolment in many govt primary schools. Of these, 433 schools — around 67% — have fewer than 30 students, while 210 have fewer than 15 students.While the number of single-teacher schools fell sharply from 233 in 2023-24 to 57 in 2024-25, Centre advised Goa to rationalise teacher deployment and optimise school resources. The state’s education secretary was among the officials present at the review.The PAB noted that govt schools in Goa have largely achieved saturation in basic infrastructure, including electricity, drinking water, toilets, handwashing, and library facilities. However, it stressed that the focus must now shift to quality, functionality, accessibility, and regular maintenance to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment.According to the review, 89.1% of govt schools have internet connectivity, 96.5% have playgrounds, 83.8% have boundary walls, and 92.7% have ramps for children with special needs.At the same time, Centre flagged gaps in ICT infrastructure. UDISE+ 2024-25 data showed that among 132 eligible govt schools, only 52 (39.4%) had ICT labs and 81 (61.4%) had smart classrooms. The state secretary told Centre the status had not been correctly updated and would be reflected in UDISE+ data for 2025-26.
