BJP TO MEET THE CM TO OPPOSE GRANTS TO ENGLISH PRIMARY SCHOOLS

PANJIM: Coming out with a demand that the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat should strip the Education Minister, Mr Atanasio Monserrate of his portfolio for failure to properly handle the issue as regards grants to primary schools with English as their medium of instruction, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said that its delegation would soon meet the Chief Minister so as to oppose grants or any financial assistance to English primary schools.

The state BJP president, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar told a press conference in the city along with the North Goa MP, Mr Shripad Naik and the spokesperson of the state party unit, Mr Rajendra Arlekar that the BJP would oppose any such proposal in the assembly, as well as outside it.

“If required, we will take on to the streets to oppose grants for the English primary schools,” he added, pointing out that the BJP would not only participate in the related April 6 rally organised by the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, but also convince the people to attend the same.

Pointing out that the Educational Advisory Board consisting of educationists has already recommended primary education in mother tongue, and the issue has been settled 20 years ago, Mr Parsekar stated that some MLAs and ministers in the stat cabinet, with an intention to set disorder in the state education system are supporting the Forum for Rights of Children’s Education for demanding grants to the English primary schools.

“Unfortunately, the Education Minister, who himself has no educational background to handle his portfolio properly, has declared that he would announce his related decision before the end of the ongoing budget session of assembly, without taking the stakeholders into confidence,” the state BJP president lamented, noting that the Education Minister is clearly taking a prejudiced stand on the issue.

Demanding that the Chief Minister should immediately prevent any attempts to make this issue a political one so as to utilise it for political gains during the forthcoming assembly elections in Goa, Mr Parsekar said the future of the grassroots communities, new generations, culture of the land and Goan identity is at stake.

“An attempt to provide government grants to English primary schools was once made earlier, albeit unsuccessfully,” Mr Parsekar recalled, predicting that if the recent attempt becomes successful then the Marathi and Konkani schools would eventually close down due to lack of response from parents. “The BJP acknowledges importance of English language in present times and therefore, supports grants to English schools from middle level onwards,” he said, maintaining that 84 per cent of the global population undergoes primary education in its respective mother tongue, while only 16 per cent population has it in English.

The state BJP chief also expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a partner in the coalition government in the state, has come out with its stand to oppose grants for the English primary schools. “The decision of the MGP has strengthened the stand of the BJP in this respect,” he concluded.

Replying to a question, Mr Parsekar said that not all Catholic population in Goa supports the demand as regards provision of grants to English primary schools. “Many of them respect their mother tongue, and are for education in the same at the primary stage,” he added.