EdWords

Turmoil on Goa's Campus

GOA has undoubtedly taken a big leap in the field of education in recent years but the maladies afflicting it too have kept pace with the development. Flawed syllabus, faulty teaching methods, burgeoning irregularities in setting exam papers and partiality while correcting the answers, inordinately delayed results, hiked fees and assorted scams mark the academic calendar nowadays. Quite boldly, the regional education system seems to have been ushered into the muddied national mainstream.

The marks scandal at the VNN Bandekar College in Assagao and the serious incidents of ragging, particularly at the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology in Porvorim, figure among the ominous events so far during the current academic year. The malaise, however, is not restricted to the colleges but begins right at the primary school stage. The BJP-led government has been criticised vehemently for closing or handing over of several primary schools to non-educational private institutions, in some of Goa's rural talukas.

Misbehaving lecturer

The Bandekar College students are up in arms because of the marks scandal relating to the post-graduate diploma in Computer Application. The genesis of their unrest ensues from the questionable conduct of a college lecturer, who instead of being their guide and mentor, took on the role of a virtual roadside Romeo. He tormented the girl students with his unbecoming ways and held them at ransom by withholding their results.

The student's potent agitation, spearhead by the Mapusa Students Action Committee, has witnessed the dismissal of the misbehaving lecturer. The principal, who failed to arrest the rot, has also seen his way out, feigning poor health. These seemingly tough disciplinary acts, however, fail to pacify the students, who have been directed by the Goa University to reappear for the internal assessment of the second semester. The University's proposal to hold the re-examination does not seem to be proper.

Obviously, the authorities will soon have to contend with widespread student unrest, raring to have a go once again in Goa. Moreover, former students leaders and activists have been stringing together another front, to take up cudgels on behalf of the suffering student community. But who can prevent political predilections from seeping into such youth-relevant movements?

Ragging

Ragging, on the other hand, has emerged as a scourge at the campus, going from its naughtier version to near sadism. At the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Porvorim, seven junior students were compelled to strip, in a closed room, by the seniors, and the private parts of a boy sustained injuries. Unable to stand the mental depression the Delhi boy returned to his parents. On the basis of his complaints, the remaining six have confessed that they were victims of ragging. Of course, the complainants have requested their Principal to fcomive the culprits as it would affect their careers adversely.

People have pinned their hopes on the BJP-led government to weed out the irregularities from the educational fields. The will on the part of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's part, to correct anomalies, is evident. However, many people allege communal bias in some of the action taken by his government. Therefore it is necessary that the government extricates itself from the publicly perceived partisan image.