Save govt primary schools started by Bandodkar by switching them to English medium: Lobo

Panaji/Calangute: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Wednesday said that all govt primary schools in Goa should be made English medium schools, if state wants these institutions established by Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand ‘Bhausaheb’ Bandodkar to survive. He said Konkani and Marathi can continue to be propagated by making them compulsory subjects.
Lobo said the insistence on keeping govt primary schools as Konkani and Marathi medium is leading them to a slow death. He said within five years none will survive if the present medium of instruction (MoI) policy continues.
“If all schools in Goa have English as MoI and have Konkani and Marathi as a compulsory subject then the problem gets resolved. I don’t understand what is the need to bring in language politics in this issue of education. How long can we keep our eyes closed to reality. Govt primary schools are shutting down. Govt is looking to give these schools to NGOs to run. What is wrong then in what I am saying? Then let govt resolve this issue and we will back govt,” Lobo said on Bandodkar’s birth anniversary.
He said those who are fighting over language are the same people who are admitting their children to the best of schools, which are all English medium schools.
“These people are admitting their children to schools with English as MoI. And our govt primary schools all have Konkani and Marathi as MoI. The problem arises when Goans admit their children to English medium primary schools. If anyone is debating on making all schools English medium, let us see where the person’s children and grandchildren study themselves,” said Lobo.
He said even migrant workers coming to Goa today want their children to study in English medium schools.
The MLA said a school established by Bandodkar in Parra in 1964 is running one class today from the original four due to lack of students.
“Once, there were 90% enrolment of Goan students in this school. Today there is not one Goan studying there. Govt is spending so much on teachers’ salaries, infrastructure, govt has spent on smartboards. But despite this the schools are shutting down. It is therefore my request to govt that if we want to keep the schools started by Bhausaheb Bandodkar alive then turn these schools into English medium schools. Do not mix language debate with education,” said Lobo.