In a democracy everyone has a right to raise their views and feelings. All of us know that there is discontent between our very own 40 MLAs whom the people had chosen during the 2012 elections. Of them many will want not to harp on the same string. Some may want to have a status quo to be maintained on the MoI, others still may say let the parents be the sole judges and have choice on it.
The politicians are afraid the children of the poor who really want to study may come up in life and outshine their wards and thus qualify to share the major share of the cake. By imparting education in English the DSE Schools want to give all children a level playing field. It aims at the upliftment of the poor, the downtrodden and the marginalised so that they may come up in life and be on par with their peers irrespective of their caste and financial status.
It does not augur well for Minister Mr Arlekar to remark that giving grants to English medium primary school as “wrong”. At this juncture may I pose a question? Who are these Arlekar, Parsekar and Parrikar to opine and to decide as to what is good/bad for our children? Is this democracy or dictatorship? We are in a Republic, democratically ruled India/Goa, where the ruled are mightier than the rulers. Hence there is freedom of choice and expression which has to be expected by the ones in power.
Kudos to our Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva for showing solidarity with parents who are asking for the choice of MoI for their children. Also Dy CM Mr Francis D’Souza, better late than never, for feeling the pulse of the people and expressing his view that the government should allow parents to decide the MoI.
However, he does not commit categorically as he is “Numero Dois” in the cabinet and does not want to topple the BJP cart, of which he is a loyal soldier.
