A college in Goa has introduced a certificate course on “marriage readiness”, encouraging young people to prepare for married life with the same seriousness they give to building a career.
The 15-day course, titled “Marriage Readiness: Preparing for Healthy and Lasting Relationships”, will be conducted by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Goa College of Home Science from December 2 to 17.
College principal Mahesh Pai said marriage readiness involves much more than planning a wedding. It requires people to understand themselves, their partners and the responsibilities that come with married life.
“Marriage readiness requires an understanding of oneself, one’s partner, relationships, commitment and the responsibilities of married life,” Pai said.
He added that the course would help participants explore what goes into building healthy and lasting relationships.
Course Comes Amid Goa Government’s Push for Pre-Marriage Counselling
The initiative comes days after Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the state government plans to introduce pre-marriage counselling across Goa to address the rising number of divorces.
Sawant made the announcement at an event in Panaji on Sunday.
According to figures from the state Law Department, more than 3,000 petitions related to marriage and divorce were filed in Goa’s civil courts between 2022 and 2025. The state recorded 947 such petitions in 2024 alone.
Who Can Apply for the Course?
The certificate course is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, unmarried young adults and others interested in developing healthy relationships and preparing for marriage.
Through the programme, the college aims to encourage participants to think about commitment, mutual understanding and the practical responsibilities of sharing a life with another person.
