PARENTS MEET AN ILLITERATE CHURCHILL AND DAMU IN RE ENGLISH MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

MARGAO: Anxious parents from Salcete kept up the momentum in support of their demand to make English the medium of instruction at the elementary education when they called on PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao and Fatorda MLA Damu Naik separately on Wednesday morning.

The parents submitted a memorandum to the Fatorda MLA as well as the PWD Minister, demanding English as the medium of instruction with Konkani or Marathi as one of the compulsory languages up to elementary education.

At Fatorda, Parents and teachers of Our Lady of Rosary School called on the Fatorda MLA and submitted a memorandum demanding English as the medium of Instruction.  PTA Chairman Agnelo Furtado said that children should be allowed to follow the medium of instruction of their choice, adding that they would chalk out the future course of action.

Parents said that the Right to Education Act, making provision for mother tongue as the medium of instruction at the elementary education, would hit the student community in a big way.  The Fatorda MLA gave the parents a patient hearing and felt the issue should be decided by educationists keeping the interests of the future generation in mind.  “The Right to Education Act was passed in 2009, but the state government has not placed the Legislation in the State Assembly for discussions”, MLA Damu told the parents, adding that it is for the government to decide whether to bring in any amendment to the Act.

He, however, said that educationists will have to address the problems faced by the parents.

At Varca, parents called on the PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao at his office and placed their demand for making English as the Medium of instruction.

The parents later held a meeting wherein speakers called upon the government to address their genuine problem by making English as the medium of instruction. They said the government can make Konkani or Marathi a compulsory subject at the elementary education.

Dinar Barros, who addressed the parents, said that the ongoing movement does not obliterate Konkani, Marathi or Urdu as medium totally. “Our demand is very clear that parents, whatever they choose for their children, should be respected by the government. From the next academic year, the government should continue giving aid to English medium schools”, he asserted.

A parent Henry D’Costa told the gathering that the choice of medium of instruction should be left to the parents to decide, adding that English is universal language and cannot be ignored in this modern world. “Every elected representative should work for the upliftment of our students. If they have any concern for the children, the government should make English as the medium of instruction and Konkani the compulsory language”, he added