Panaji: The battle between the regional languages and English, to be the medium of instruction in Goa is quite heating up these days.
Reportedly, on Monday, thousands of supporters displayed their support for English language being made the medium of instruction for school students. On the other hand, a new front namely Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has come to shore up regional languages Konkani and Marathi to confront the decision.
The BBSM is an organization which comprises of some eminent freedom fighters, a former chief minister and a section of the clergy. In order to support regional languages, this organization has declared a statewide protest against the change of English over Konkani and Marathi as the medium of instruction.
One of the members of BBSM and former chief minister, Shashikala Kakodkar said that we want the education minister to resign for being a part such meeting that demanded English should be made the medium of instruction.
Moreover, Kakodkar while underlining the importance of the mother tongue said that a massive statewide agitation would be organized by the BBSM to in order to end attempts made by vested interests towards cultural annihilation of Goa and de-linking Goa from the national mainstream.
As per sources, on March 21, 2011 (gone Monday), thousands of people, bearing majority of parents of school going children and most of the state’s Catholic legislators, congregated in the capital. The meeting stipulated that the state government should de-link grants from the medium of instruction clause. It was also demanded that state should give grants to primary schools offering English as medium of instruction, not only Konkani or Marathi.
Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE), also organized a rally against the backdrop of the central Right to Education (RTE) Act. This RTE Act envisages child’s mother tongue as the medium of instruction which is Konkani in Goa. However, this Act is scheduled to be approved in the state legislative assembly soon.
