Congress supports govt over English in primary schools

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Goa: Cong supports govt over English in primary schools


Panaji, June 19: The Goa pradesh Congress committee, at its meeting held
at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry hall, today fully supported
the government and the Education Minister, Mr Luizinho Faleiro for
introducing English language subject in Marathi and Konkani medium schools
and further recommended setting up of a panel for drafting state education
policy. The meeting presided over by the GPCC president, Mr Ravi Naik and
attended by the Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Rane as well as the
Education Minister also recommended that the government should take due
precaution to update or modify the English language NCERTs Marigold books
for classes from I to IV as per the level of comprehension of the students
by referring the same to the state Board of Studies.

Proper and scientific selection of textbooks would encourage the students
to study good English, the GPCC members felt. The GPCC meet discussed
single-topic agenda of the changes made in the state school education. The
GPCC president told the reporters that the importance and gravity of the
subject did not allow the GPCC members to discuss any other issue. Later
addressing a press conference, the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Mr
Shantaram Naik said the GPCC has welcomed introduction of English as a
compulsory subject in Konkani/ Marathi medium schools. The GPCC felt that
this decision will decrease the number of dropout students and also
prepare them for switchover to the English medium from Class V, without
any difficulty, he added.

Another important recommendation of the GPCC to the government is the
immediate abolition of school complex structure created by the previous
Bharatiya Janata Party government for personal gain, Mr Naik said. He
pointed out that the matters related to the aided schools such as the
process of according grants and electing the school committees will also
have to be re-organised. Speaking further, Mr Naik said that constituting
a committee for preparing a draft of state education policy which would
include the art, culture and tradition of the state, was very much
necessary. This policy, to be framed within the parameters of the National
Educational Policy, should amend the Goa Education Rules 1986, and must be
drafted by experts in the field, he said.

The GPCC felt that a separate chapter should also be added to this policy
to regulate parent-teachers associations which are presently running in a
haphazard way, in an undisciplined manner, Mr Naik informed. Reacting to
the opposition from the BJP for the introduction of English language
subject for Marathi/Konkani medium primary classes through NCERT syllabus,
Mr Naik said, It is ironical that those forces which have tried to alter
the history of the country through the NCERT textbooks are today giving
lectures on the NCERT textbooks.

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