Eng schools will shift to Konkani-Marathi: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 June 2012 22:14 IST
While formally approving the medium of instruction policy on salary grants to primary schools at a cabinet meeting today, chief minister Manohar Parrikar has expressed confidence that English medium schools would now shift to Konkani or Marathi medium.
The new MoI policy has decided to give salary grants to 105 Church-run English medium schools having around 25,000 students.
However, the government would otherwise give grants only to Konkani or Marathi medium primary schools in future.
Parrikar at a press briefing said the government has also decided to lift the ban to give permission to new Konkani or Marathi medium schools, provided the neighbouring primary school has total less than 40 students.
“Due to this ban, many schools were started in English medium”, claimed Parrikar.
He further claimed that the new policy of lifting the ban would encourage the English medium schools to revert to Konkani or Marathi.
“At least five to six such schools approached me in last two days in this regard”, he informed the media persons, but did not name these schools.
Meanwhile, FORCE, the organization of parents fighting for salary grants to English medium schools, has welcomed the decision of the government.
The parents were actually demanding salary grants to all the English medium schools.
Though the government has decided to give grants to only Church-run schools, the FORCE has welcomed the decision.
The FORCE would however react in detail after studying the whole policy thoroughly.
In the meanwhile, members of the Facebook group – Mr Digambar Kamat Get Well Soon – today met chief minister Parrikar, who has assured to meet them again.
They had asked for a debate before the cabinet decision is taken. But the CM did not wait.
The Facebook group of youngsters has also demanded a public statement from St Andre MLA Vishnu Wagh, who was leading their agitation during Congress regime but is quite on the BJP policy now.
The young brigade plans to hold a convention in next two days to decide the future course of action.
The people of Goa should be free to choose the MoI and it is ok to Konkani as a compulsary subject in Primary and secondary schools. this was also promised by CM before the elections. Let the people have freedom and the system will change on its own after a long time.