MARGAO
One cannot imagine that a Marathi medium government primary school has been operating over the years in coastal Benaulim - considered the heartland of the Konkani movement, where overwhelming majority of the inhabitants either speak Konkani or English.
A Portuguese-era school building located along the Margao-Maria hall road indeed plays host to a government primary school in Marathi medium. The school caters to around 12 students, with four students each studying in Std II and IV and two each in St
d I and III.
So, how has a Marathi medium primary school survived in a Konkani heartland, where the buzz amongst parents is English medium if not Konkani and where people rose in unison during the historic Opinion poll to say a firm ‘No' to defeat Goa's merger into neighbouring Maharashtra.
Well, a visit to the school building under renovation by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has revealed a different story. Inquiries by The Goan, however, have revealed that the Marathi primary school has survived all the years with students hailing from the migrant families.
In fact, barring one, the remaining 11 students belong to the migrant community, whose roots are neither in Benaulim nor other parts of Goa, but can be traced to the districts of Maharashtra. A lone lady teacher, who imparts teaching to the students, pointed out that the strength of the students have come down this academic year compared to the previous years. "This Marathi medium primary school has survived on the children of the migrant families. There's only a lone student staying near Bhendi road, who are settled in the village. Rest of the students all belong to the migrant families," she added.
If the lady teacher is to be believed, the Marathi medium primary school has been operating from the Portuguese-era school building over the decades. "I have completed 10 years at this school since my posting way back in 2006. There was another lady teacher before me, teaching in this school for many years," she recalled.
Incidentally, it's still unclear whether the primary school will be merged with any neighbouring government school given the prevailing strength of the students. "We are not sure whether the school will be merged with any other neighbouring school though the government circular states that only schools with less than 10 students will have to be merged," she said.
Reports indicated that another government primary school operates in Sernabatim-Colva, and it's still unclear whether there's any move to merge the two schools taking into account the strength factor.
While one half of the Portuguese-era building, which dates back to the late 19th century, is occupied by the government primary school, an anganwadi school functions from the remaining portion, catering to the needs of the local children.
So, how has a Marathi medium primary school survived in a Konkani heartland, where the buzz amongst parents is English medium if not Konkani and where people rose in unison during the historic Opinion poll to say a firm ‘No' to defeat Goa's merger into neighbouring Maharashtra.
Well, a visit to the school building under renovation by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) has revealed a different story. Inquiries by The Goan, however, have revealed that the Marathi primary school has survived all the years with students hailing from the migrant families.
In fact, barring one, the remaining 11 students belong to the migrant community, whose roots are neither in Benaulim nor other parts of Goa, but can be traced to the districts of Maharashtra. A lone lady teacher, who imparts teaching to the students, pointed out that the strength of the students have come down this academic year compared to the previous years. "This Marathi medium primary school has survived on the children of the migrant families. There's only a lone student staying near Bhendi road, who are settled in the village. Rest of the students all belong to the migrant families," she added.
If the lady teacher is to be believed, the Marathi medium primary school has been operating from the Portuguese-era school building over the decades. "I have completed 10 years at this school since my posting way back in 2006. There was another lady teacher before me, teaching in this school for many years," she recalled.
Incidentally, it's still unclear whether the primary school will be merged with any neighbouring government school given the prevailing strength of the students. "We are not sure whether the school will be merged with any other neighbouring school though the government circular states that only schools with less than 10 students will have to be merged," she said.
Reports indicated that another government primary school operates in Sernabatim-Colva, and it's still unclear whether there's any move to merge the two schools taking into account the strength factor.
While one half of the Portuguese-era building, which dates back to the late 19th century, is occupied by the government primary school, an anganwadi school functions from the remaining portion, catering to the needs of the local children.
