PANJIM: Students will soon learn of the historic Opinion Poll of 1967 and the man known as the Father of this referendum, Dr Jack de Sequeira, as this will be part of the high school syllabus from the coming academic year 2019-20. The chapter on Goa’s Opinion Poll will figure in the history text book of Class IX.
The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has decided to introduce a history chapter on Goa’s Opinion Poll for Std IX syllabus from the upcoming academic year onwards.
Speaking to Herald, GBSHSE chairman Ramakrishna Samant said that former Chief Minister, the late Manohar Parrikar had suggested that the Opinion Poll and related historic events be incorporated in the syllabus. An expert committee headed by Prof Harsha Kamat was constituted to conduct a study on eight historic events, including the history of Goa’s freedom struggle.
“The expert panel has submitted its report and the instructional matter is now pending before the Review Committee. Once we get the clearance, from the coming academic year onwards, we are introducing it for Std IX,” he said.
Parrikar, while presiding at the golden jubilee celebrations of Goa’s Opinion Poll in January last year, had promised to get the history of the Opinion Poll included in school text books. The move was backed by Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai.
Speaking further, Samant said that the chapter will in general about the Opinion Poll and it will focus on leaders who contributed towards this historic campaign and vote. “Those for and against the merger will be focused. The chapter will not just lay focus on Dr Jack de Sequeira but in general,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the chapter will not portray Goa’s first Chief Minister in the negative, Samant said, “History is history and we cannot change anything.”
“There is nothing called giving black image or negative image of anyone. We have to put across all the facts before students about the history of the Opinion Poll. The instructional matter is worked out in that manner,” the chairman said.
