Panaji: With the mess on the educational sector amidst pandemic spreading wide, Director of Education Vandana Rao is at the receiving end.
As per a report in Times of India, ruling MLA and Port Minister Michael Lobo has demanded sacking of Rao claiming that she has been implementing bookish wisdom, without knowing the reality of the state.
The Director has hogged controversy even in the past when she had refused appointment to Congress delegation led by Pratima Coutinho.
Her conduct during the pandemic has also come under scanner after aided schools were asked to look after their salaries due to COVID-19 crisis. The circular was later tweaked claiming that the salaries have been delayed as “Grant In Aid section staff of Education department has been home quarantined.”
Lobo’s jibe against the Director has come as a serious incident. The Calangute MLA has alleged that Rao has “messed up education” in the state and stop her from messing it further, she should be immediately removed from the post.
“She wants to bring rules which she has learnt as an IAS officer and wants to implement them here. She wants to bring reforms in education, but wants to go purely by the book in that case education will go haywire,” Lobo has been quoted by TOI.
He also alleged that the director was running the department like her private limited company.
TEACHING FRATERNITY UPSET WITH DIRECTOR, BUT HELPLESS
Large number of teachers in the state are also upset over the conduct of the Director, but has controlled their angst as service rules prevent them from speaking against the authorities.
The decision of the government to force teaching and non teaching staff to attend the schools despite pandemic situation has also got a negative response from the teachers.
FIRST WARNING BELL: NAVELIM SCHOOL PEON TESTS POSITIVE
As per the report in The Goan newspaper, a peon working with the school at Navelim has tested positive for the infection.
The teaching and non teaching staff of the school has now decided to go for their tests after the incident. It has spread panic amongst them.
GFP PARTY SAYS THEY HAD PREDICTED THE SITUATION
Goa Forward Party Vice President Durgadas Kamat said that they had predicted the situation during its earlier press conferences.
Kamat tweeted “We @Goaforwardparty on #9thJuly had clearly mentioned that if directions from @HRDMinistry is not implemented #Corona virus would hit the #Teaching and #NonTeachingStaff. Today it’s come true. #Peon working in a school @Navelim has tested positive.”
He further tweeted “Highly placed sources in #EducationDepartment has informed us that the file was put up to @goacm @DrPramodPSawant but #EducationDept has not yet received the approval from the CM to implement the directions of #HRDMinistry. Inferiority complex of @goacm is costing the state”.
