MARGAO
Coming out strongly against the legislators for going back on their promise to pass the Medium of Instruction Bill in the January session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, the general body meeting of the Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE) on Saturday resolved to take school children to the residences of the ministers and MLAs as parents resolved to intensify the movement for government grants to English medium primary schools.
Parents pointed out that they will take their wards to the residences of the ministers and MLAs in their respective constituencies with a plea to impart them the education if they think that parents have no right to take a call on the education of their children.
With elections months away, parents also supported the demand to teach the MLAs and ministers a lesson for going back on their word to pass the MoI Bill.
At the general body meeting of FORCE held at Grace Church hall on Saturday evening to review the situation and to chalk out the future course of action, parents, including FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes and Diocesan Society of Education, Fr Zeferinho D’Souza asserted that ministers and MLAs, who had promised in writing to pass the MoI Bill have insulted the people of Goa, the children and the future generation.
In his address, Fr Zeferinho said the elected representatives have insulted parents by going back on their promise to pass the Bill. “They have insulted the parents and everyone. Parents should not forget the insult. You should give them a befitting reply”, he said, while asserting that it is the right of the parents to teach their children as per their choice.
Saying that the day is not far away when the parents will emerge victorious in their movement, he made a fervent plea to parents to stay united and not to buckle under pressure or threats.
“Don’t be afraid of threats and pressure. And don’t fall prey to attempts made to divide people on religious and other considerations”, Fr Zeferinho said.
FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes later told the media that FORCE will soon constitute boothÂ-level
and constituency-level committees to sensitise people and take the ongoing movement to the
logical conclusion. “There’s false propaganda being spread around the villages that parents are
demanding English as the official language. This is utter falsehood. What we are demanding is
only a facility to study in English at the primary level. Parents will counter this falsehood at the booth and constituency level”, Lopes said.
He said FORCE would soon decide the date and time to realise the demand of the parents to take school children to residences of ministers and MLAs.
“We will incorporate the suggestions received from both the Panjim and Margao meetings before
coming out with a action plan”, he said.
