MOTHER TONGUE MEDIUM IS A MUST IN THE EDUCATION OF GOA: NAGUESH CARMALI

PANJIM: Konkani writer and protagonist, Mr Naguesh Carmali, expressing his views on the controversy over medium of instruction said, "I am dead against making English as the medium of instruction at elementary level, especially, in the state of Goa, where we already have an education policy in place.’’

Speaking to this reporter, Mr Carmali said that fault lies in the education system and not in studying in a mother tongue. Stating that Konkani lovers in Goa are still alive and kicking, he said, "we will not surrender to the anti-nationalist forces, but will fight till the end."

"We will welcome English language as one subject at the elementary level, but not the whole of education in English, and one subject in Konkani," he added.

Further, stating that today’s teachers are not dedicated to the cause of education, Mr Carmali expressed the need to appoint dedicated and learned teachers, who should not be political appointees as this profession demands complete devotion.

Citing his own example, he said that although he studied in Marathi, he can very well converse in Portuguese and English and that there was no problem of any kind, adding that, this was achieved due to good teachers in those days.

"Making a child learn in English medium is like torturing him or her. India is not an ordinary country. It is rich in culture, traditions, languages and we should be proud of our language," he pointed out.

While the convenor of Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, Ms Shashikala Kakodkar who is a STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF MARATHI AND AGAINST KONKANI, said that opposing education in mother tongue at the primary level and imposing a foreign language is not a sign of true nationalism and added that she is totally opposed to it.

"We are not against any language, but by making English the medium of instruction at the elementary level, love for nation, love for its cultural ethos and love for its language would be eliminated from the heart of children,’’ she felt.

The former editor of Sunaprant, Mr Uday Bhembre, believes that English would be a better option for the present generation and one subject should be made compulsory in mother tongue — either Konkani or Marathi, Uday Bhembre is here forgetting that Goan Mother tongue is KONKANI and not Marathi for him to suggest EITHER OR from Std I to SSCE.

"This would bring in progress, prosperity and at the same time protect the culture and mother tongue also," Mr Bhembre added.

He also hoped that this would put to rest the controversy over the medium of instruction.

The former director education, Ms Suman Pednekar, opined that education in mother tongue is a must for Goans, but teaching English as one subject should also be encouraged as the students have to switch over to English as the medium of instruction as they move ahead in their studies.

Ms Pednekar also proposed that while the children are imparted education in the mother tongue, English should be taught by the qualified teachers.

Mr Pundalik Naik, a Konkani writer and Sahitya Academy Award winner, said that there is no need to change the education policy as it has been formulated long ago and the grants should be extended to only those schools and institutions, wherein medium of instructions at the primary level is mother tongue.

Mr Naik further said that "we have invited representatives from 500 schools to discuss the issue and only after holding the discussions we would chalk out the future course of action."