I am sure that the Legislators did not come to Azad Maidan, Panaji as individuals. They had definitely come there as representatives of the government, deputed by the government as its ambassadors to convey the message that the MoI Bill will be brought in the Assembly in January," Savio Lopes, FORCE secretary
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MARGAO
Asserting that parents demanding English as the choice of education at the primary education have been left disappointed by government’s decision not to table the MoI Bill in the ensuing Assembly session, Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE) Secretary Savio Lopes has warned that the parents are closely watching the actions of the Legislators over their failure to honour their commitment to get the Bill passed in the Winter Session.
Reacting to government’s decision to postpone the tabling of MoI Bill in the Budget Session, Lopes said the parents have put on notice all the Legislators, who had come to Azad Maidan with the promise that the government would bring the MoI Bill in the Winter Session of the Assembly. “I am sure that the Legislators did not come to Azad Maidan, Panaji as individuals. They had definitely come there as representatives of the government, deputed by the government as its ambassadors to convey the message that the MoI Bill will be brought in the Assembly in January," Lopes said.
Asked to outline the future course of parents with the government going back on its commitment, Lopes said the parents will soon meet to take stock of the situation and chalk out the future course of action. “The parents will wait and watch now. Some of the Legislators who had called on the striking parents at Azad Maidan had promised to quit and go home if the Bill is not tabled in the Winter Assembly session. Let us see whether the MLAs will honour their word. The parents will soon chalk out the future course of action," he said.
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Digambar favours grants to all English schools
MARGAO
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Saturday said he favoured government grants to all English schools as per the choice of the parents.
He told The Goan that the Education Act provides that the choice of the parents should be the medium of instruction at the primary level. “When my government brought the decision to give grants to English medium primary schools, it was intended to give grants to all English medium schools and not restrict the grants only to a select few institutions," he said.
In fact, Kamat said he would put forth his views before the Select Committee when the Bill on MoI comes up for discussion, reiterating that all English medium primary schools should get the government grants.
Asked to point out the discrepancies that cropped up in the Bill and the Cabinet decision that prompted the government to postpone tabling the MoI Bill in the ensuing session of the Assembly, Kamat said the members had raised a host of queries on the wordings in the Bill and the Cabinet decision that were contrary to each other.
He, however, said that members of the Select Committee, besides the officials, have been asked to come out with suggestions at the next meeting so that the suggestions are incorporated before the Bill is tabled in the House.
