PANJIM: The battle between English and regional languages as the medium of instruction in Goa is heating up. After thousands of supporters of the English language as the medium of instruction for school students marked their turf Monday, a new front Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has vowed to back regional languages Konkani and Marathi (Marathi is not the State Language).
The BBSM, which comprises freedom fighters, a former chief minister and a section of the clergy, has now threatened a statewide agitation against making English as the medium of instruction.
"We want the education minister to resign for being part of a meeting which demanded that English should be made the medium of instruction," former chief minister Shashikala Kakodkar said.
Underlining the importance of the mother tongue, Kakodkar said a massive statewide agitation would be organised by the BBSM to "end attempts made by vested interests towards cultural annihilation of Goa and de-linking Goa from the national mainstream".
On Monday, thousands of people, mostly parents of school-going children and nearly all of the state's Catholic legislators, converged in the capital, demanding state grants to primary schools offering English as medium of instruction.
The rally organised by the Forum for Rights of Children's Education (FORCE), comes against the backdrop of the central Right to Education (RTE) Act, which envisions the child's mother tongue -- in Goa's case Konkani -- as the medium of instruction. The act is scheduled to be ratified in the state legislative assembly soon.
The meeting also demanded that the state government should de-link grants from medium of instruction clause and that grants should also be given to schools offering English as a medium of instruction, not just Konkani or Marathi. --IANS
If we get 'Independence' from India via the UN, then we don't have to worry about Hindi.....we can then concentrate on English and Konkani.
ReplyDeleteThe BBSM is just another backward thinking organisation.Headed by Sashikala Kakadokar (BANDODKARS DAUGHTER), they wish to return Goa to the DARK AGES.
ReplyDeleteI would class these idiots as Nationalistic "noise makers".
While they get their children educated in good English medium schools, they would like the other children of others educated in a "good for nothing" medium.
Also note the membership is made up of people that have failed in their chosen careers.
Shashikala is a failed MLA & Chief Minister.Her posting as a CM was out of sentiment for her father rather than merit .
The freedom Fighters , once again, have jumped on the BBSM bandwagon to justify their free & illegal "DOLE" or State handouts for ex-criminals.
As for the Clergy supporting these "nuts", they should focus on religious doctrination. No wonder the Priests these days are not being given due respect and have been indulging in other socially unacceptable activities.
As for the Statewide agitation, rest assured, this will be made up of paid un-educated thugs and goondas.
This (goondaism & thugism) is the modern day weapon Politicians use to attract attention and votes.
The BBSM, comprised mainly of "freedom fighters", has vowed to back regional languages as the medium of instruction. No one has said that Konkani should not be the medium of instruction. What is wanted is that schools with English as the medium of instruction should also be elligible for the grants.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that in Far Eastern countries like Malaysia and Singapore, there is no requirement for children to have their education in the mother tongue. The languages taught, besides the local language, include English. If those countries can have "English and Mandarin" or "English and Malay", why can't Goa have "English and Konkani"?
UNESCO has accepted that it is not always possible to use the mother tongue in school. Besides, some factors may impede or condition its use. Those who indulge in half truths have quoted only part of the UNESCO report. Half truths are said to be worse than blatant lies.
According to a writer in the printed media (Dr. Afonso Botelho, Betalbatim), "There is no general rule that primary education should be in the mother tongue. Mother tongue education is often 'predicated upon some sort of ancestral definition of mother tongue' and modern generation, having experienced language shift, speak languages other than those spoken by their ancestors. There is no justification in educating children in languages, ancestral or otherwise, which they do not speak."
What is the problem in educating children through the medium of English and extending grants to schools with English as the medium of instruction?
this is their Agenda... Oh My God!
ReplyDeleteBharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM)The BBMS has condemned their participation. Highlighting the importance of regional languages, Kakodkar stated that they will pressurize the government that all pre-primary and primary education be imparted only in the mother tongue or any Indian language.
As a part of the movement for the protection of local languages, BBMS will give a representation to the Governor, Chief Minister and other ministers and all elected representatives appealing to make their stand clear on the issue.
Very True... this is all becoming too much of a Joke in Goa now...... :(
ReplyDeleteThe answer to our problem is only "INDEPENDENCE" Quit GOA movement should start instead of "Special Status"
ReplyDeleteAfter Independence we don't have to think of Marathi, Ignorant Gandhi, Invader India, Hindi, Corruption ? , Lawlessness.
Most of the Hindus of GOA are more patriotic to Maharashtra then to Goa. Why they want to encourage Marathi? I don't understand as Kannad, Hindi, Guajarati is spoken more then Marathi in Goa now. Very few write in Devnagiri script. Devnagiri script does not mean God's Script as most Hindus unfortunately think. If any one writes in Devnagiri script are those mostly brought by traitor Bandorkar to ruin Goa of it's Identity.
We should have two opinion Polls: One for Independence and the other for the MOI, the MOI should either be in Portuguese or in English and mandatory subjects should be Konkani and optional subject should be Sanskrit. If India is a democratic state then the peoples mandate should be considered, a handful of people fooled us before and nearly ruined us.
Enough is enough, The church is doing everything to ruin the Catholics again.
We need to understand that Mother tongue & medium of instruction are two different things. how many of us are of the opinion that if our mother tongue is made compulsory , will our children can be good citizen of this world ? personally i feel no . instead if the Medium of instruction is in English least they can reach to some level. now we all know that in Goa medium of instruction in mother tongue is made compulsory if these schools needs govt grants. our mother tongue in Konkani & not Marathi , we have more marathi schools than konkani in Goa although both are funded by the govt. why not english when marathi is not a official language of Goa ?
ReplyDeletewe do love konkani as our mother tongue & konkani can be made a compulsory subject in schools.
mr bandodcar & now his daughter the bitch try to carry his legacy of promoting marathi in Goa.
personaly i feel english should be trhe medium of instruction. we all love our mother tongue. Daman & Diu are promoting Portuguese language but we in Goa are promoting Marathi.
guys as regards medium of instruction I am in for English as first language & Portuguese as a second language in Goa.
You don't deserve to be here. Go back to Portugal
ReplyDeleteYou don't deserve to be in Goa, Go back to the invaders whose language is corruption. God bless you and give you brain to think, your mind is manupilated by the invader Indian history.
ReplyDelete