BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: To curb the rapid proliferation of pre-primary schools in the state, the government has decided on compulsory registration of such schools.
In the days to come, norms and the curriculum for these pre-primary schools will be framed by the end of this year.
While the scheduled time limit for setting these norms is fixed for September 2009, the curriculum is expected to be ready in December 2009.
To start with, the Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate said he will insist on registration of all existing pre-primary schools.
The procedure is expected to commence in a month's time and Monserrate said schools will be informed about this stipulation through advertisements.
It appears that the time limit set by the Education Minister, subsequent to the issue of advertisement, will be of a month's duration.
He informed the House about this policy in response to a Starred Question raised by Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza in the House yesterday.
While D'Souza wanted to know how norms could be framed after registration, he insisted on the pre-requisite of having the norms in place prior to the registration of such pre-primary schools.
Quoting from the written reply, D'Souza claimed the components of the 'Scheme for Regulating and Promoting Pre-Primary schools' to be as under:
Registration of pre-primary schools in the state, production of a uniform curriculum for the pre-primary stage and orientation programme for pre-primary teachers in the curriculum.
"Norms, curriculum, orientation must be decided in the initial stages. Otherwise, these pre-primary schools will have the scope to do what they want.
Stop registration procedure until these stipulations are in put in place," demanded D'Souza.
Through a supplementary, Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar wanted to know whether registration of such pre-primary schools would tantamount to their recognition by the government.
"Will the Department of Education consider their recognition?" questioned Parsekar.
The debate was called off abruptly as the Question Hour came to an end.
