Margao, 12th September 2025: Goa Forward Party General Secretary Prashant Naik today accused the Department of Education of denying crucial information under RTI and failing to grant No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to eligible high schools, depriving teachers and non-teaching staff of permanent posts for years.
Naik revealed that on 21st June 2025, he filed an RTI with the Directorate of Education seeking the number of NOCs issued for filling permanent posts of undergraduate teachers and non-teaching staff in Goa’s high schools from 1st April 2023 to 31st May 2025, along with the list of schools where NOCs were granted. The Education Department’s reply failed to provide this information, citing general criteria like enrolment and workload, but refused to share school-wise data. “This is a clear denial of information and a violation of the RTI Act,” Naik stated.
Naik pointed out that GFP President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, had raised similar questions during the Assembly session, including details of taluka-wise teacher vacancies, steps taken to fill them, applications for school expansion, and reports on declining government school enrolment. “Even in the Assembly, the Education Department gave vague answers, simply stating that NOCs were granted ‘as per entitlement’ and that vacancies are filled by school management committees. This is a clear breach of privilege,” Naik said.
Highlighting the injustice, Naik said, “I can name 40-50 schools, including my own, where permanent vacancies have not been given for the last four years. Our school has been running since 1939, delivers 100% results, and 95% of our students belong to the ST community, yet we are forced towards such injustice. This is discrimination.”
Naik alleged that only select schools appear to be granted permanent posts, raising questions of favoritism and corruption. “This government has completely changed the system. Earlier, NOCs would be granted within a month. Today, we have to beg, and even after waiting for eight months, the Chief Minister, who is also the Education Minister has not given us an appointment. This is unacceptable,” he declared.
Challenging the Directorate of Education, Naik demanded, “Hold a press conference, put the data out in the public domain, and prove that you have given permanent posts to all eligible schools. If not, give us reasons for denying them. If this injustice continues, we will be forced to move the High Court, and if necessary, go all the way to the Supreme Court to get justice for Goa’s schools and teachers. This should happen by the 30th of September 2025. CM Dr. Pramod Sawant must immediately intervene, restore fairness and transparency, and stop this injustice being done to schools and teachers across Goa.”
