Show cause notices force schools to mull legal action (Herald)

October 22, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) schools may be forced to approach the courts after they were issued show cause notices by the government last week for expressing their inability to monitor the mid- day meal scheme) due to lack of time and expertise. So far notices have been received by schools located only in south Goa. Even the Goa Headmasters Association has expressed its reservations on the issue. Apprehensions are that schools in north Goa may also get such show cause notices. The notices were issued after most of the ABE schools had written to the respective district steering cum monitoring committees that it would be impossible for them to monitor the scheme given their daily academic workload. The south Goa steering cum monitoring committee for the mid-day meal scheme has written to schools, most of which are under ABE management, calling on them to show cause within eight days why action should not be taken against them for not complying with directives issued by the district-level committee for monitoring of the scheme by their respective managements, PTAs and heads of institutions. The Goa Headmasters Association (GHA) too has taken serious cognizance of the issue as well. While accepting the need for such a scheme, it has pointed out that it was unfair to expect schools to take on the responsibility of monitoring the mid day meals. “It involves monitoring the entire process from marketing, cooking conditions and hygiene up to the distribution of the meals to the schools,” says a GHA communiqué. The GHA points out that heads of institutions are already overburdened with the academic and administrative responsibilities, which have kept on increasing with new schemes and upgradation coming from the DoE, besides the nurturing of students and addressing issues of parents on a day- to-day basis. “Mid day meals is totally a different department, and we heads, parents and managements most sincerely have no expertise on it,” the GHA note says, adding that the government must appoint experts on quality control who would check and give approval for the distribution of these meals to the respective schools. It adds that good catering colleges in Goa could be a great help and support in this direction. Meanwhile, the show cause notices state that in case the schools fail to reply, action deemed fit would be taken against them after the matter is referred to the higher authorities. As of Friday, most schools in the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem and neighbouring talukas had received the notices. The matter has irked the ABE raising eyebrows as to why church-run schools are facing the wrath of the government from time to time. One school principal speaking on condition of anonymity said, “This is simply ridiculous that we should have to face action for something that we cannot monitor.” He pointed out that neither management nor PTAs, nor heads of institutions have the expertise to monitor the scheme which involves so much time. Another institution head said it was hard to digest the harsh contents of the show cause notice pointing out that it does not state under what Act or rules is the government proposing to take action against schools and on what basis action was sought to be taken. Even the ABE is upset over the issue and said it closely watching the developments on this issue. Demands have also started pouring in from other quarters for the withdrawal of the show cause notices failing which schools may have to resort to legal action in the days to come. http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Show-cause-notices-force-schools-to-mull-legal-action/80971.html