TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: In a major goof up, students of 127 Diocesan schools that succeeded in getting grant-in aid for this academic year to continue education at primary level in English, have not received English textbooks even as the schools are in the second week of the academic year.

Students of all primary schools that teach in the regional languages have been supplied text books by the Government. With Government extending grant-in aid to 127 diocesan schools from this Academic year, it is imperative on its part that it should also supply them with text books.

Though the Parrikar Government did a commendable job in negotiating out of the medium of instruction tangle successfully and extended grant-in aid to 127 schools just a few days before schools could commence, it appears that officials in the Education Department did not warn him of the implications that English text books would have to be printed much in advance for distribution to schools.

Our sources in the Government said they are clueless as to what text books to provide to the schools. The Chief Minister was to convene a meeting in this regard but that has also not happened.

Normally, printing orders for books are given well in advance so that students  are given text books beginning of the academic year but books for English medium schools were not printed  since Government’s decision  on MoI came through only last week.

Diocesan schools changed the medium last academic year after Government declared its policy giving grants to schools teaching in English medium at the primary level. This decision was later revoked after Court orders.

The Diocesan schools, however, did not switch back to Konkani despite directive by Education Department and cost of books was borne by parents.