CHURCHILL CALLS FOR AN OPINION POLL TO DECIDE MOI

MARGAO: The PWD Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao’s call for an opinion poll to decide the contentious issue of medium of instruction has detractors as well as supporters -- some outright reject the demand while others favour to give it a chance.

Mr Uday Bhembre, one of Goa’s elder statesmen, rubbishes the idea. "This is total rubbish (opinion poll). The medium of instruction is not to be decided by people by raising hands or even by the MLAs. It is a matter to be decided by experts," he says, arguing, "The choice of parents ends with the choice of board and school. Their choice has limits. For example they have no choice on who is the headmaster or who is the teacher. The parent also cannot say which subject should be taught to the children as you are bound by the curriculum."

But Mr Dinar Barros, a PTA member and one of those in the forefront of the movement pushing for parent’s choice in the medium of instruction, disagrees.

"It is a good thing as long as it is not rigged. Today if you take a poll parents should be made to decide, especially parents who have minor children. Only they will be eligible to vote," he says.

However, Mr Bhembre is not so forgiving terming this as appearing to be "an election issue or a game of one-upmanship with Mickky," referring to Mr Alemao’s bête noir and Benaulim MLA, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco.

"An opinion poll is held only in extreme matters. There has been only one instance in the sixty-three years of the Independence of the country… and he wants it on this issue. Absolutely not," Mr Bhembre says, dismissively.

But Mr Barros is of the opinion that government has to make arrangements to impart education in whatever language the parents want, even as Mr Bhembre says, "It has been decided at international level by UNESCO and at national level by Kothari Commission and national education policy. The government also says that it should be done in local language. This is just like curriculum. This is to be decided by experts and not even by headmasters. Similarly the medium also too is a matter to be decided by the experts."

Mr Prashant Naik, an activist since his student days, feels that the demand for a poll is a big joke, though he is ready to take up the challenge: "In India opinion polls are rarely conducted. To decide about Goa it was a rare issue. I don’t justify a poll and if he (Mr Alemao) wants it then there is no problem."

He also raises a relevant point: "Once the government has decided status quo then he (Mr Alemao) has no right to talk. If he wants to talk then he should leave the government."

"Many politicians misguide the people. For example on the Mopa issue he (Mr Alemao) was always saying that he does not want Mopa. But ultimately it is coming. If anybody wants to differ with the government then he should quit the government and then differ with it," Mr Naik says.

But Mr Barros feels that Mr Alemao is with the parents. "He (Mr Alemao) is solidly behind us. Because the government is not giving in, he must have probably felt that we should have a ballot. If you have an opinion poll, parents should also give in writing what they want for their child from next June. There is a rule saying that children should be taught in mother tongue unless parents give in writing. Churchill’s opinion poll can be linked to the parents’ choice," he says.

Dr Savia Veigas, who has a school of her own, has no opinion on the opinion poll but feels that "the problem is not the medium of instruction. Everybody is barking up the wrong tree. Parents don’t care for their mother tongue. They do not take pride in Konkani. Goans need to take pride in their language. For example in Maharashtra Marathi is there. That is why the language is strong there."

She feels that Konkani needs to be looked after and the whole system needs to be pruned and tuned, adding "I feel that government should promote writings in Konkani… And why but allow the medium of instruction in English?" - NT