Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) accused the Department of Education of withholding crucial information under RTI and deliberately denying No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to eligible high schools, thereby depriving teachers and non-teaching staff of permanent jobs for years.
Addressing the media, GFP General Secretary Prashant Naik said that on June 21, 2025, he filed an RTI seeking details of NOCs issued for permanent posts of undergraduate teachers and non-teaching staff in high schools from April 1, 2023, to May 31, 2025. “The department refused to share school-wise data, citing only general criteria like enrolment and workload. This is a clear denial of information and a violation of the RTI Act,” Naik alleged.
He added that GFP President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai had also raised the issue in the Assembly, demanding taluka-wise teacher vacancy details, school expansion applications, and reports on declining government school enrolment. “Even in the Assembly, the department gave vague replies, claiming NOCs were granted ‘as per entitlement’ and vacancies filled by school management committees. This is a breach of privilege,” Naik said.
Calling the situation “discriminatory,” Naik pointed out that dozens of schools have been denied permanent posts despite meeting all requirements. “I can name 40–50 schools, including my own, which has been running since 1939, delivering 100% results, and serving 95% ST students. Yet we are forced towards such injustice,” he said.
Naik further alleged favoritism and corruption in granting NOCs, claiming that only select schools are given approval. “Earlier, NOCs were issued within a month. Now schools are made to wait for eight months, and even then, the Chief Minister—who is also the Education Minister—does not give us an appointment,” he charged.
Challenging the government, Naik demanded transparency: “Let the Directorate hold a press conference and release the data. Prove that all eligible schools received permanent posts. If not, explain why. If this injustice continues, we will move the High Court, and if necessary, the Supreme Court.”
Naik set a deadline of September 30, 2025, for action and urged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to “restore fairness and transparency and end the injustice being done to Goa’s schools and teachers.”
