Now BJP supports Konkani in Goa schools
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has joined the bandwagon of the political parties supporting Konkani and Marathi as Medium of Instruction (MoI) at the elementary level.
Addressing a news conference Sunday, BJP Goa President Laxmikant Parsekar has demanded that the existing MoI in local languages should not be changed.
?English is posing a threat to regional languages because of its glamour. People are bowed to English language because it is taken as fashion nowadays. But the concept worldwide is that the primary level of education has to be in mother tongue,? Parsekar told reporters.
He said that the current policy of Konkani and Marathi as MoI is working well and grants are properly distributed.
?UNESCO, which is dedicated in the field of education, supports that primary education has to be done in the mother tongue,? he said.
The BJP legislator said that the issue cannot be debated through public meetings or in the Legislative Assembly, but it has to involve educationists keeping in mind the past, present and future of a child.
?The decision has to be taken by educationist and experts. Legislators do not into the picture,? he said adding that few legislators who are demanding English as MoI do not have educational qualification.
Quoting an extract from UNESCO?s report, Parsekar said that primary education be taught in mother tongue, for, explaining logic behind a particular step in English language is difficult.
The State is divided over the MoI issue with several thousand parents demanding English to be included as MoI, and another group demanding that elementary education be taught in regional languages.
On Saturday another political party – Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), which is represented by two of its legislators in the Goa cabinet- said that they will not allow English language to be recognized as MoI.
They also opposed providing any financial assistance to English schools.
Similarly, a new organization ? Bhartiya Bhasha Surakha Manch (BBSM) has rendered its support for Konkani and Marathi as the MoI. The Manch has organized a massive rally on April 6 at Panaji.
