By Irfan Iqbal Gheta
Our school children are the torchbearers of tomorrow. When parents send their wards to school, they rightfully expect more than just education — they seek dignity, safety, and the tools to face an increasingly competitive world.
Recently, a deeply troubling incident came to light. A video surfaced showing students being made to push a broken-down school bus they were travelling in. As the clip went viral, public outrage forced the school’s management into action. The negligent driver was swiftly dismissed — a decision that deserves appreciation. This is how accountability should work. Our children must never be subjected to such demeaning tasks. Simply put, it is not their job.
On Tuesday, during the Assembly session, Leader of the Opposition Shri Yuri Alemao raised another shocking issue. A government-run primary school in Navelim, Salcete taluka, is reportedly in a deplorable condition. The false ceilings are crumbling, threatening the safety of the students. But the horror doesn’t end there.
This school lacks even the most basic amenities — no proper restrooms, no hygiene infrastructure. Children are reportedly relieving themselves outside, and in some disturbing instances, even inside classrooms. If these claims are true — and pictures are to be shared with the Chief Minister — it’s nothing short of shameful.
How did we let it come to this? Why has no authority stepped in until now? Clean and hygienic restrooms are not a luxury — they are a fundamental right. Every child deserves dignity and privacy. No child should be forced to attend to nature’s call in the open or inside a classroom.
Now that this disgraceful situation is in the public domain, the real question is: Will action follow? Will the Chief Minister — who also holds the education portfolio — act decisively?
Lip service will not do this time. Ordering a routine inquiry or suspending the principal won’t suffice. While construction of modern restrooms is the urgent need of the hour, this is also an opportunity — and a responsibility — to initiate a broader change.
A comprehensive audit of all government-run primary schools across Goa is imperative. Let the government gather facts, compile reports, and then act swiftly to overhaul decaying infrastructure. Let our public schools become symbols of pride, not neglect.
Is that really too much to ask? Don’t our school children deserve better? Haven’t we, as a society, vowed to eradicate open defecation? What better place to start this change than our primary schools?
Let’s uphold their dignity. Let’s give our children what they truly deserve.
