PANAJI: Expressing shock that though 40 IT Knowledge Centres have been established in various cities around Goa, only 5 of them are operational, the first report of the demands-related ad hoc House committee on education, sports and information technology tabled in the state Legislative Assembly on Friday stated, "Now that the infrastructure is ready, it is difficult to comprehend the reason, as to why the government is taking so much time to get the other centres functional."

"The committee desires that in order to achieve the objectives of this scheme, these centres should be evenly established in the state covering even the remote areas," it recommended, pointing out, "It is also desired that the syllabus of the course conducted be updated periodically."

Furthermore, observing that many government departments in the state do not have computers till date, in the age of information technology, which is a pathetic situation, the ad hoc House committee under the chairmanship of Aldona MLA, Mr Dayanand Narvekar recommended that government expedites the process of computerisation and e-governance in all its departments, especially those that have services to offer to the public.

"It is also desired that training programmes be held periodically for government servants and it should be made mandatory for the department to send all their staff for computer education, so that all these programmes of the government can be operated without problem," the committee added.

"The committee is taken aghast to acknowledge the fact that the government has done nothing to protect the interests of the IT industries, which have been allotted plots in the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at Dona Paula. The project has been put on standstill on account of violence experienced by these IT industries, which now fear reoccurrence of violence once they take necessary steps to start their units," the ad hoc House committee observed, adding that if this is the state of affairs, then Goa will lose out on establishing itself as an IT Hub.

The ad hoc House committee further recommended that the government provide the IT entrepreneurs with police protection, and at the same time take an undertaking from them that they will begin construction within a specified time limit.

Recommending that the government should conduct surprise inspections at the schools to know the actual state of affairs of the schools around the state, the ad hoc House committee said that such inspections would make the schools function in accordance with the guidelines of the directorate of education.

In another recommendation, the ad hoc House committee maintained that the government has to provide professional help to children towards educational and psychological counselling and guidance. "The government should formalise such a scheme systematically and employ professional assistance besides regular training to teachers," it pointed out.

As regards the children in special need, the ad hoc House committee recommended the government to give special attention to the areas of inclusive education as such students require constant assistance of the government.

"The committee also recommends the government to start vocational training centres, where training is imparted on the concept of inclusive education for such children above school going age," it added.

The ad hoc House committee further recommended that the government start the integrated school complexes project for the Panaji schools at the earliest and take suitable action to initiate such project in other parts of the state.

Observing that many post graduation courses at the Goa University are going under capacity, the ad hoc House committee recommended inculcating yearning for knowledge in students so that they continue their future studies in various faculties available at the University. "This will equip them with additional qualifications to take up better employment," it noted.

"The committee was devastated with the sluggish and irresponsible behaviour of the Goa University in dealing with the Sports Policy and condemns it. The sports policy was notified in October 2009 and the same was put before the standing committee of the academic council, but from the approach of the university to implement this policy, it is obvious that the university has scant regard for sports," the ad hoc House committee observed, recommending the government to take up the issue for quick implementation of the policy by the Goa University, during this academic year, before October 2010.