GRANTS TO ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS
MARGAO
The Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE) has said that it is hopeful that the Laxmikant Parsekar government would honour its commitment made to the thousands of parents from across the State to table the Bill giving grants to English medium primary schools in the January session of the Goa Legislative Assembly.
FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes told The Goan on Thursday that he received no indications from the government so far that it will go back on its promise made to the parents to get the Bill tabled in the coming Assembly session. “FORCE is confident that the government will honour the promise made to the thousands of parents from across the State to get the Bill tabled and approved in the ensuing session. This was what the government had promised to FORCE and the parents at the Azad Maidan, Panaji, when I had gone on an indefinite hunger striker in support of the long pending demand of grants for English medium primary schools," he asserted.
He said that FORCE will take stock of the situation and chalk out an appropriate action in the event the government goes back on its word. “As per my information, it does not require long sessions for the Select Committee to meet and clear the Bill. I am confident the government will not let down the parents," he said.
Replying to a question, Lopes welcomed the stand of MGP leader and PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavalikar demanding grants to all English medium primary schools. “FORCE had never demanded grants only to the Church-run schools. We are against any discrimination, but the government had cleared the grants for certain English medium primary schools as per the choice of the parents," he said, while expressing happiness that people such as Dhavalikar have now realised on the need to give grants to the English medium primary schools.
