Panaji, July 12:
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has clarified that the state government is not inclined towards shutting down schools, particularly Marathi-medium institutions, asserting that closures occur only in unavoidable situations. Speaking on the issue, the CM said, “The government has never shut down any Marathi school. In fact, most of them have either been repaired, renovated, or newly constructed.”
Highlighting the reasons behind certain school mergers, Sawant said, “Sometimes schools have to be shut down due to a lack of students, as parents prefer to shift their children to urban areas or aided high schools. However, we have only merged schools to ensure continuity of education and better resource utilization — not closed them.”
On the subject of education, CM Sawant expressed concern over the rising trend of police complaints being filed against teachers for allegedly assaulting students. “It saddens me to see such incidents. I urge our teachers to adopt ‘Mulyavardhan’ — value-based education — in their teaching methods,” he said.
He encouraged educators to move beyond conventional teaching and focus on identifying and nurturing students’ creativity. “Teachers must play a role in spotting the unique talents in each child and promoting them positively,” the CM added.
The statement comes amid growing debates over the status of government and Marathi-medium schools in the state and the evolving role of educators in modern classrooms.
