Karnataka   

Rally planned against change in school policy

PANAJI: Despite the State Government's decision to maintain a status quo on the issue of medium of instruction at the primary school level, the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), a body formed to protect the regional languages, has resolved to go ahead with its public rally in the city on Wednesday.

Despite a forceful demand from a section of parents and others that the Government should provide aid to English-medium schools at primary level on par with those teaching in Konkani and Marathi medium, the Government recently decided not to alter its policy.

The convener of the BBSM and former Chief Minister, Shashikala Kakodkar, declared on Sunday that they would go ahead with the rally on Wednesday as planned earlier.

“We want the present situation to continue permanently with regard to grants being extended to Konkani and Marathi primary schools and not English-medium schools.

“We do not want this issue to be raised in future,” said Ms. Kakodkar, who is the architect of the policy in her capacity 15 years ago as Goa's Education Minister in a non-Congress coalition government.

The BBSM rally is billed as a “show of strength” by the supporters of regional languages.

Ms. Kakodkar reiterated BBSM demand for the resignation of State Education Minister Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate.

Arvind Bhatikar of BBSM has warned that if the State was divided on communal lines over the issue of medium of instruction, the blame would solely rest on the State Government.

The Forum for Rights of Children's Education, a body spearheading the cause of English-medium schools, has condemned the State Government for its decision to maintain status quo.

Trying to dispel the impression created by some people, forum secretary Savio Lopes has emphatically stated that the forum had in no way opposed the primary education in regional languages or demanded closure of Konkani or Marathi language primary schools.

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