New schools invited, Govt schools neglected

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 10 June 2012 21:55 IST

At the cost of existing government primary schools, the Manohar Parrikar government has started inviting applications for new Konkani or Marathi schools while the academic year has already started.

In order to perhaps prove that his BJP-led coalition government is actually serious about the schools in regional languages, the education department has asked private institutions to send their applications by 26 June.

The Parrikar government is presently under heavy criticism for giving government support to Church-run 127 primary schools, which had shifted from Konkani to English in violation of the court order.

"The state government will provide financial assistance to these new proposed schools. Existing English medium primary unaided schools can also switch over to Marathi or Konkani medium and avail this assistance," a press release by the state government reads.

Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has already announced one-time grant of Rs 12 lakh for the new schools in Konkani and Marathi, besides an annual grant of Rs one lakh each for the next five years as well as salary grants to the non-teaching staff.

In yet another decision, state government has also relaxed the criterion of one kilometre distance between two schools, provided the existing school had strength of less than 40 students.

Uday Mhambro, a Konkani writer and activist, has however strongly objected to the method in which the government is handling the issue.

He has written to Parrikar pointing out only one teacher being provided in a government primary school in Volvoi in Ponda taluka for all the four classes to teach in Marathi.

“The government is promising lakhs of rupees to new schools while not even enough number of teachers are provided to the existing government schools”, said Mhambro, whose daughter is presently studying there in Standard II.

On the other hand, Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s outgoing president Prashant Naik has pointed out that the government is rejecting the requests to start primary schools in Konkani.

Nirakar Education Society in Mashem, Canacona, which he is heading, has been applying every year for a permission to open Konkani medium primary school in Mashem as well as in Tudal, Gaodongri, a tribal village.

“Our Mashem application is rejected once again while I am told verbally yesterday that Tudal would be given permission from this year”, he informed.

He however asked from where he would get the students when schools have already started and parents have admitted their children elsewhere.

The department should mean it when they act; it should not be a mere political stunt, adds Naik.

Meanwhile, the Facebook group “Mr Digambar Kamat Get Well Soon” has announced a 24-hour “Maybhaas Helpline” to help the students, who want to shift from English to Konkani or Marathi medium.

“The children who opted for Konkani should not suffer at the cost government’s amicable solution towards English studying children. Our group will offer the protection towards the rights of the children in Konkani medium in 126 schools”, said Yugank Naik on behalf of the Group.


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It may create problem for the students who learn only local languages, if the students wants work in abroad, (or the companies like IT & BT where English environment is more) they will have problem . For this reason learning English is very essential. Learning both Regional (Konkani) and English Language a may help the students for their future.



As of now English is used everywhere sudden switch-over may put the students handicapped when they come out from the university.

The Trained teacher for the all the subjects may not be available/difficult, the educational materials available needs to be updated.

Considering these points the implementation force may be decided.

- replyreader, goa | 12 th June 2012 14:51

 

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