Govt approves Eng medium, but cabinet divided

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 25 May 2011 20:50 IST

CM Digambar Kamat announces while EM Babush sits quietely

Goa is now being fully converted into ‘English Goa’, as far as the education is concerned. In a major cabinet decision, the Congress-led coalition government has decided to allow English medium in all the primary school, including those owned by the state government.

Disputing chief minister Digambar Kamat’s claim that it’s an ‘unanimous’ decision, three ministers – MGP’s Sudin Dhawalikar, NCP’s Nilkanth Halarnkar and Congress’ Babu Azgaonkar – said they did not agree with the decision.

But neither they walked out of the cabinet meeting nor they resigned, which is a normal convention.

As per the decision announced by chief minister Kamat, all existing private English medium primary schools will be now given salary grants. This should result into reduction of their admission fees and ‘donations’.

The cabinet has also allowed the existing aided private primary schools – run till date in Konkani or Marathi – to run English medium at primary level. This would probably result into enmass conversion from Konkani into English medium, especially in the Diocesan-run schools.

In addition, which was not a specific demand of any organisation, the cabinet has decided to give choice to the students studying in the government primary schools to choose English medium. This would now compel the Konkani or Marathi teachers to teach in English.

In addition, the government has decided to provide English teacher to all the existing Konkani or Marathi primary schools.

The cabinet has also made it compulsory to teach Konkani or Marathi as a subject from first to tenth standards in all the English medium schools.

The decision was announced by the chief minister in the presence of education minister Babush Monseratte, home minister Ravi Naik, revenue minister Jose Philip D’Souza and health minister Vishwajeet Rane.

However, when journalists later confronted Babush and Ravi, they neither justified the cabinet decision nor commented on it positively.

“You ask the chief minister”, they said. In fact, the education minister was seen fuming while replying. Ravi however did not seem to bother much.

Sports minister Azgaonkar however said this is an end of our mother tongue Konkani.

“I have now suggested that government jobs be given to only those who have studied in Konkani medium at primary level”, said Azgaonkar.

Transport minister Dhawalikar, belonging to the MGP, said they would continue fighting for imparting primary education only in regional languages and not English.

However, when asked whether he would resign from the cabinet in protest of the decision, Dhawalikar said: “I will do what my party tells me”.

The Bharati Bhasha Suraksha Manch, which was opposing the decision to allow salary grants to English medium schools, has however threatened to intensify their agitation against the government decision.

While the opposition BJP termed it as a ‘black day’ in the history of Goa, BBSM convenor Shashikala Kakodkar said ‘it is an uncultured decision of the minister for culture Digambar Kamat’.

Thinker and Konkani leader Adv Uday Bhembre opined that the negative fallouts of this decision would be visible only after a decade. But in the bargain, one generation would suffer miserably.

The proponents of English medium, including FORCE, however are jubilant over the decision. They have wholeheartedly welcomed the decision.


goanews.com is now on Telegram & also Youtube. Kindly subscribe for free & remain updated.


Drop a comment

Enter The Code Displayed hereRefresh Image


Previous Comments

Really happy with CM decision.

Dont really understand the mind set of some of the people below who write in English but dont support it at the same time.

where do we want our children to get Jobs by having Konkani and Marathi as the MOI in School?

why are we we restricting our children if they want to dream Big?

Goa is with you Mr. Chief Minister dont worry about a bunch of selfish people who have studied in English and dont want our children to do so.

Terence Sequeira

- terence sequeira, GOA, Aldona | 20 th June 2011 13:01

 

Mogall goenkarano

"be clear u all against on the deccesion of cm or against the english language"

- Jason f, Canacona | 10 th June 2011 03:54

 

Every thing is said, but one question remains is that Who is this particular cabinet to take this decision? it does not have mandate to take it, neither Assembly has approved it so also that no expert view is sort for and all said and done more so ever cabinet is divided on the issue therefore this cannot be called as majority decision also by watching the ”BAND” called by BBSM & BJP , MGP support, I think this decision should be at least approved by the Assembly because this is a policy decision also this is amendment of Law so it should be passed by Assembly, till such time status co needs to be maintained.

- santosh, ponda | 09 th June 2011 09:18

 

People like Parrikar, Velginkar,Shashikala, Uday Bhembre, Naguesh Karmali are very primitive by nature.

The would surely be very comfortable amongst the primitive tribes that inhabit the Amazonian Jungle.The still believe in the Bow & Arrows culture.

Any advancement for them is seen as a threat.

Parrikar is a sly old fox.He only cares about his own interests and ego.He likes to be seen as a Champion of the Hindu People.However most Hndus dislike his his policies.They are too divisive.

The simple solution for these people, is to go and set up a new petty kingdon in a village, in Maharastra.

while the whole world is changing day by day,these Goans like to remain where they are.

My advice to them is to Socialise with other communities & religions.

Like Islamic fanatics & radicals, they believe Marathi & their brand of Hinduism, will take over the world one day.

How much more deluded can they get.



- N.Fernandes, London | 08 th June 2011 20:21

 

This is a very good decision. And why do you say that our mother tongue is finished? What do you mean by that? I was born and brought up in Goa, for 21 years, after marriage I settled in Bombay for 17 years and now in Portugal for the last 5 years and I haven't forgotten my mother tongue Konkani, my three children speak Konkani, they speak to their grand parents, uncles, aunts and cousins in Goa in Konkani. They were not born in Goa yet they speak their mother tongue.They didn't study in Konkani medium schools, they studied in ICSC schools in Bombay. What I am trying to tell you is - Please don't depend on the school to teach yor child or your grand child Konkani, you must speak to your child in Konkani.

The well educated Marathi people in Bombay went to the best of English medium schools, yet when they have to communicate with their fellow maharashtrian, they will speak in Marathi and that is the spirit. Sadly when in public places, many Goans feel ashamed to speak in Konkani.

Finally it's not what the child learns at school but what the child is taught at home.

May God our Almighty Father protect Goa and her people from every harm, evil and danger in Jesus Name.

God Bless You all.

- Glory, Portugal | 08 th June 2011 15:56

 

English MoI is a good decision taken by the govt. Those who r against it dont creat problems in the state . If u r not with the decision taken by the govt. Make sure that u don,t send ur children to English medium school . teach them whatever language u want to teach .but don't force others to follow u.Each one has right to vote similarly each one has right to choose language . Konkani is our language & it will remain forever .You don"t need to learn Konkani . It is our mother tongue .A child never forgets her mother so we will not forget our mother tongue.

- Maureen, Salcete | 28 th May 2011 21:52

 

good decision although too late in the day...

a ray of hope for the poor and the exploited...

and one nice tight slap on the face of the 'experts'...

on the flip side, a needless controversy...

studying in our schools is like drowning in a bottomless well...sadly we are just fighting over the color of the underwear we wear while we all are drowning...

- Kakodkar, Mumbai | 26 th May 2011 19:09

 

Dear Mayur, I do not agree with you that the Mother tongue is finished, It was a good decision by the government. anyway you are right with the mining and infrastructure.

try writing your comments in konkani in this column next time.

- John W D Souza, Margoa - Goa | 26 th May 2011 15:07

 

INDIA..Means . I Never Do It Again When British Was leaving India after Indep..1947 They Requested Indian Govt Pl. Do Not Change Your India Name To Hindustan Or Bharat Because We Wanted to remember This word Always When ever We will see India Or our next generation will think 1000 times to not to rule India Again. because that time they had promised I NEVER DO IT AGAIN . But today The Same British In Congress Costume They have Done Again. I am Not against English Because Today It Is Very important Part Of Our Life Style . But Our Mother Tongue Is Very Very Very Important part Of Our Leaving Style . That we Should Not Forget

- manna, Panaji | 26 th May 2011 14:44

 

MR C.M PLEASE FULFILL DEMANDS AS FOLLOWS

1. CHEEP LIQUEUR

2. NO HELMET COMPULSION

3.USE OF KANNADA IN ADMINISTRATION

4.JUST PROMOTE S.SC STUDENTS

5. FREE DRUGS OR AT VERY LOWER RATES

6.FREEDOM TO MAKE LOVE ANY WHERE ..

& MANY MORE .........

SO CONGRESS PARTY WILL GET AT LIST 36 SEATS OUT OF 40 ... VERY POPULAR CM...

- AMOL, MARGAO | 26 th May 2011 12:05

 

we are to blame here ...we are the ones who elect these morons election after election even after knowing what they are only capable of(mining and looting the wealth of goa and spoiling its culture)

- Rohit, Bicholim | 26 th May 2011 12:04

 

THIS IS NOT GOOD DECISION .

- SAIEE, BICHOLIM | 26 th May 2011 11:57

 

very wrong decision by digamber kamat to save his chair.

this decision will finish konkani language ,which portuguese could not do in there 450 years of rule . THANK YOU MR. KAMAT YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB TO FINISH MOTHER TONGUE . YOU NEVER DARED TO IMPLEMENT OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ACT.

BIG SHAME FOR YOU. JUST LIVE THIS GOA & GO TO ENGLAND ,..........YOU CANT STOP MINING WHICH IS KILLING HUNDREDS OF GOAN YOUTH ANNUALLY ,YOU HAVE NO POLICY TO IMPROVE GOAS INFRASTRUCTURE........

YOU HAVE MADE US TO LOWER OF HEAD IN SHAME .

- mayur, goa | 26 th May 2011 11:54

 

The logic behind the decision is the sickest part of it all. Was any study done by any experts ? Practicality was the answer given. Given this logic, there is strong grounds for legalizing drugs, prostitution. After all, Goa is well known as a place to have "fun".

- Samir Kelekar, Bangalore | 26 th May 2011 11:29

 

Latest News

Education

Desktop Site