CALANGUTE: Stating that the decision taken by government on the Medium of Instruction (MoI) is in the best interests of the State, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said there are efforts to divide the people of Goa on the language issue.
Terming the BBSM agitation on MoI as unnecessary, Lobo said the political parties should abstain from interfering in education. “Elections are nearing and everyone wants to gain mileage and as such the BBSM also wants to field candidates and get something out of it,” Lobo told reporters on Saturday.
Stating that the BJP government in Goa has taken the right decision of continuing grants to English medium schools, Lobo said, “The parents should decide what their child should study.”
Lobo also questioned why is an issue being created when grants to Konkani and Marathi were not stopped. “We respect Konkani and Marathi but if some people do not want to send their children to English schools then there are Konkani and Marathi schools, who is stopping them?” he asked.
He also said that those agitating are themselves sending their children to English medium schools. “Why should others or underpriviledged be deprived of English education?” he asked.
When pointed out that BJP had promised to sort the MoI issue in the 2012 manifesto, Lobo said, “Please read the manifesto again. We had said we will find an amicable solution to the issue and not stop grants to English schools. The solution that former CM Manohar Parrikar and present CM Laxmikant Parsekar have taken is the best possible in the present circumstances. The decision of the government has to be congratulated.”
Lobo also pointed out that even in the Assembly the issue of Marathi to be given official language status was raked up. “The issue was settled 30 to 40 years ago so why are these being raked up again? It seems there is an effort to divide the people of Goa on these lines,” he said.
