"Get Well Soon Mr Digambar Kamat" on MoI

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 03 January 2013 00:09 IST

At the outset, the Get Well Soon group takes this opportunity to congratulate Shri Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister of Goa on being awarded CNN-IBN Person of the Year 2012 in the politics category.

Our CM definitely deserved it as he has displayed great political acumen before and after the election. We congratulate CNN-IBN for choosing Mr. Parrikar for this award as they definitely chose the best “politician”. Howsoever good politicians the other nominees may have been; none of them could have ever imagined matching the ‘politics of education and language’ as played to great effect by Mr. Parrikar.

This new brand of politics was ably demonstrated in his policy of the Medium of Instruction based Grant in Aid issue at the primary school level in Goa. Although, the policy thunders in the very first section that the Medium of Instruction at primary level in Government and Aided schools would be the mother tongue of the child; but then the exception provided defeats this very statement in the policy itself. It is a dichotomous policy that reeks of double standards and worse, it makes a mockery of the principles of justice by rewarding the law breakers. And by choosing to unveil it just a couple of days before the schools reopen; he has so timed it with the sole intention of thrusting it down the throats of the common man.

The Get Well Soon group was the first to oppose this unjust policy vide our Press Release on 5th June 2012 and we still continue to oppose the provision of exception to certain schools that is based on any sound principle or law or any expert recommendation. In fact, it is a baseless provision.

The circular issued under the Digambar Kamat government by the Education Department dated 10th June 2011 was challenged in the Hon'ble High Court and the Hob'ble High Court had blocked the implementation of the said circular. Still, in an abject and open defiance of the High Court orders, 130 aided schools converted to English in the academic year 2011-12. These schools were held in contempt by the High Court, as they had willfully violated the orders of the Hon'ble High Court.

SCHOOLS UNDER CONTEMPT OF COURT

Now Mr. Parrikar, in his policy legalizes the illegal act by the 130 schools and allows them to convert to English disregarding the fact that these schools were held in contempt for violating court orders on the same ground. This act by the CM amply demonstrates his respect for law and the judiciary, or rather the lack of it. Not that he has shown any genuine respect for the judiciary ever; rather he had to tender an apology when contempt of court proceedings were initiated against him when he was the CM in 2003.

Under the Right to Information Act, we asked the Education Department about the Medium of Instruction in these schools from 2005 to 2012 including the present academic year. The Education Department has replied to us on record saying that the Medium of Instruction from 2005 to 2011 was Konkani and for the academic year 2011-12, the Medium was English.

Our next question was whether any permission has been sought by these schools from the Education dept. to change their medium of instruction. The Education Department answer is that the Change is as per circular dated 18th June 2012.

It means that these schools have changed their medium in June 2011 based on the circular that is issued a year later, in June 2012!!! We ask the government to state on what basis was the change of medium authorized in June 2011. This clearly shows that the change of medium in 2011 was illegal.

Hence, we asked what action has been taken by the Department against these schools. The Education Department says no action has been taken.

We demand a credible explanation from the Government on why has no action been taken against these schools which have converted their medium from Konkani to English in 2011 without being granted any permission to do the same.

HOW DID THESE SCHOOLS CONVERT TO ENGLISH

We asked through an RTI application the Number of Schools which have taken permission from the Department before December, 2011 for converting their Medium of Instruction. The Education Department categorically answered that 130 schools have taken permission from the Department before December 2011 to convert their Medium of Instruction to English.

We also asked whether any Application has been made to the Directorate of Education by these Schools which have changed Medium from Konkani to English seeking Permission/Approval for the same. The Department answers in the affirmative saying Yes.

So, we asked for the Inward Number, date of application and Certified copies of such applications made and also the date on which permission was granted against the applications. The Education Department answer to this RTI Query that it is not available!!!

What is going on in the Education Department? The Department is telling us that they do not have details of applications made to them. It simply means no such written applications seeking permissions were made; hence it is obvious that no permissions were sought. If applications were indeed made, as the Education Department would like us to believe; then we challenge the Department to show the copies of such applications. Or were the permissions sought and given orally? Is this how the Education Department functions? It is clear that the Education Department itself does not know what is going on. Anarchy reigns supreme in the Education Department of the Education ministry headed by the Chief Minister himself.

GRANTS RELEASED TO THESE SCHOOLS

We asked though an RTI query the total amount of grant in aid released to these 130 schools for the academic year 2011-12. It may be noted that these 130 schools were operating in English medium for the academic year 2011-12 in clear violation of all rules, in total defiance of High Court orders and in full knowledge of the Education Department that chooses to turn a blind eye to all these illegalities. The Department replies that a staggering 24,77,28,136 (24 Crores, 77 Lakhs, 28 Thousand 136) rupees were given to these 130 schools in the academic year 2011-12.

More than 24 Crore rupees of the people’s money paid to sustain an illegality by the Government!!! That makes it an average of 1.58 lakhs per month to each of these 130 schools. And now, in his unjust policy, the Chief Minister bargains to legalize the illegality by pacifying the supporters of Konkani and Marathi medium by providing a one time grant of 12 lakhs and a 5 year annual grant of 1 lakh each to new regional medium schools! A maximum of 17 lakhs over 5 years, or just a measly 28,000 per month over 5 years so that over 1.58 lakhs can be paid per month to these “converted to English” schools !!! That’s ridiculous !!

Till date, we only heard of instances where people bribe the Government Officials to get their illegal work done. This is the first time the Government is trying to bribe the people to continue paying grants illegally to these 130 schools.

The additional grant provided to new Konkani and Marathi schools is nothing but a bribe! And this whole scenario is a SCAM … It is no longer just a Medium of Instruction issue; it has now graduated to an EDUCATIONAL SCAM!!! We demand an explanation from the Chief Minister. Mr. Manohar Parrikar, “Is this your Zero Tolerance to Corruption? Or is it rather Zero Tolerance towards any opposition to corruption?”

EXCEPTION MADE FOR MINORITY INSTITUTIONS

Mr. Chief Minster, your unjust policy makes a provision of exception to the “mother tongue as medium of instruction” rule to minority institutions. The whole façade of playing the minority card is just an eye wash. The circular of the Education Department dated 18th June 2012, effectively allows the following primary schools to continue in English and still get the grants in aid by the Government.

  1. New English Primary School, Mandrem (Management: Pernem Taluka Vikas Parishad)
  2. Keerti Vidyalaya Primary School, Siolim (Management: Swami Vivekanand Seva Sangh)
  3. Municipal Primary School, Vasco (Management: Marmugao Municipal Council)

These schools feature in the reply to the RTI queries provided by the Education Department. Our question is: Are the above schools minority institutions? Your whole argument of exception being made for minority institutions does not hold any water. Mr. Chief Minister, you have not provided this exception for minority institutions, rather your benevolence and the largesse of grants is for those very schools which have violated the High Court orders. This amply demonstrates your respect (or rather, the lack of it) towards the law and judiciary. What law enforcement can be expected of a Chief Minister who rewards law breakers?

Mr. Chief Minister does provide an outrageous explanation/reason for such exception that has been provided: “Continuity”. Does your “continuity” mean that just because these schools have illegally operated in English medium in 2011-12 that they are allowed to continue so? This would simply mean that any person who has broken the law or has committed a crime can continue to do so under the Chief Minister’s definition of continuity. So may be some day, the law will be applicable only to new offenders, the present offenders can continue to break the law in order to provide continuity!! Outrageous! Ridiculous!

It may seem that the Chief Minister intends to allow these schools to convert to English as there have been admissions to Std. I in 2011 for English medium. Well, but the students who have taken admissions in these very schools in 2010, 2009 and 2008 have studied in Konkani medium till date. What about their continuity? This decision forces the Std. 4th student (who has studied in Konkani in Std. 1, 2 and 3) to convert to English overnight. What about these students who in fact comprise of nearly 75% of the total students in these 130 schools? The Chief Minister owes them an explanation.

SYLLABUS FOR THESE 130 SCHOOLS

As these 130 schools were allowed to function in English medium vide the Circular of the Education Department dated 18th June 2012, the immediate concern was a definite syllabus and list of text books for these children studying in these schools. These kids, who had already fallen victim to the short sighted, ridiculous and arbitrary policies of the Government, should not be inconvenienced further.

Hence we sought information from the Education Department under RTI on the syllabus prescribed and the list of books prescribed under the syllabus for these schools. The Education Department replied that they will function as per NCERT Syllabus but the department replied that the list of text books is not available with them.

We asked the Department through RTI as to when was the notification denoting the change from the current syllabus to the NCERT syllabus issued. Obviously, the schools need to be notified about the application of a different syllabus; atleast we thought so. Unfortunately, the Education Department has no information on such notification; if at all such notification has been issued.

So, although the Education Department says that NCERT syllabus is applicable, it has never notified the schools about it. Neither does the Education Department have any information on the books prescribed under the NCERT syllabus! We are surprised that the Education Department manages to even function without such information!!

We noted that the circular permitting the 130 schools to change their medium to English was issued on 18th June 2012 whereas the schools had already started on 7th June 2012. Hence, this meant that the medium had to be changed in the ongoing academic year. So, we sought to know through a RTI query, under what rule has the change of medium been permitted in the ongoing academic year. The Education Department’s reply: Information not available.

So, the Education Department infact issues a circular permitting the 130 schools to change to English and the Department has absolutely no idea or any information under what rule such permission has been granted!!! Is the Education Department run on rules and procedures or on the whims and fancies of the Chief Minister? Is Goa under democracy, anarchy or authoritarian rule?

BAL BHAVAN

 

The primary school of Bal Bhavan at Panaji functions in English medium. It is interesting to note that Bal Bhavan was permitted to run classes in English medium without any grant in aid. The Education Department expressed its inability to release grants to Bal Bhavan primary school as it was operating in English medium and the rules did not permit release of grants. (We have a copy of this letter.)

So, are there different rules for Bal Bhavan and these 130 schools? On what basis has such preferential treatment been given to these schools? Is there any direct/indirect implicit/explicit ‘consideration’ paid to anyone in exchange of such largesse? We are not alleging any corruption, although the possibility cannot be ruled out and hence, needs to be investigated thoroughly by an independent authority.

ACADEMIC AUTHORITY

Mr. Parrikar had also announced an academic authority to look into the issue. No meetings of this committee ever happened. Then the SCERT was designated as a academic authority under the RTE Act. But, there have been no meetings of the SCERT and the whole academic authority episode looks like a big sham.

BBSM

In the last six months the stoic silence maintained by the Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has been storytelling not just us, the people of Goa are surprised over this silence.  BBSM had advocated the cause of the regional languages in 2011 that now, with the regional languages, specifically Konkani being given a row deal by the Chief Minister, BBSM has continently chosen to look the other way.  The people of Goa feel cheated by the U Turn of BBSM.  During Assembly Elections of 2012 BBSM had campaigned actively for the BJP-MGP and Mr. Parrikar as CM.  Now the flip sop by BBSM raised a big question in the minds of Goans.  Was the BBSM just a Political Front for the BJP-MGP? Was BBSM providing “Suraksha” (safeguarding) the “Bhartiya Bhasha” (Regional Languages) or the Political designs of BJP-MGP for the Elections? The Chief Minister is guilty of using a People’s Movement to further his political interest and the BBSM is equally guilty of being in cahoots with this nefarious political design of the BJP-MGP and cheating the People of Goa.  We demand a answer on this from BBSM.   

CHALLENGE

We challenge the Government on an open debate on its policy on the issue. We dare the Chief Minister to defend his policy. Let any news channel arrange for this debate. It is an open challenge to the Government to come out with the laws and rules under which the circular has been issued. Is the Government up to our challenge?

This is a scam … a scam in the Education sector. We had limited our queries and got a 25Crore figure. If dug deeper, there may be a lot of skeletons tumbling out of the closet. We will not keep quiet. We will pursue this matter to its logical end and continue to expose the designs of this government and the Chief Minister who doesn’t even give a second thought to the future generations of Goa in his shameless pursuit of petty political gains.

Dated 2nd January, 2013.


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Previous Comments

There are people here in this group who have studied in English medium .Used by BJP for political gains,Used by poor mentality leaders who dont have anything better in this world..Also remember the other Hypocrates tai,bhatikar.One whose close kins were in english medium and other running an english medium school.

Poor mentality people.

- sanjay, USA | 10 th January 2013 04:25

 

GURU PANCHANG::: This Get well Soon group are just a bunch of firebrands.

Since they cannot learn English naturally , they believe others should not.

They suffer from the "sour grapes syndrome". In other words what they cannot have , the others shouldn`t have too."

- N.Fernandes, London | 09 th January 2013 00:55

 

I wonder who is writing this one sided talks against the Government which is fullfilling all peoples demand.

Stopped illegal Mining.

Petrol which rise every 6month inlast 20 years by the Phathetic Congress Regime , this Government had the guts to stand with the people n reduce Petrol by Rupees 12,

Successfull conduct of St.Xavier feast N IFFI unlike the previous government nonsense,

Implemented Ladli Laxmi scheme first time in India for girl child.

Illegally 130 schools recieved Grants worth crores of Rupees for last 25 years should be procecuted.... or made to atleast apology of Ignorance.

Hypocrates should get well soon

- GURU PANCHANG, NAVELIM | 08 th January 2013 10:28

 

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