TEAM HERALD
CALANGUTE: Unhappy about extended school timings and foreign jaunts by legislators, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has also chided the government for keeping the Medium of Instruction (MOI) issue pending due to “political compulsion.”
Addressing parents, teachers and ex-students after inaugurating the newly laid pavers for the school compound at Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute, Lobo wasted no time to take a dig at the his own party-led government on issues pertaining to education.
“The State government’s decision to extend the school hours only inconveniences the students, parents and teachers. The government does not appear to be very serious in improving the standard of education, despite the competitive growth and a mere extension in school timings is not the right thing to do,” he said.
“The government has, unfortunately, not done enough to improve the infrastructure of the schools. Mere extension in school timings serves no purpose in the absence of good infrastructure like toilets, etc. The government should provide good toilets separately for boys and girls, a compound or a fence. Besides, benches should be conducive for studies,” Lobo added.
He also expressed disappointment on “foreign study tours” undertaken by legislators. “These foreign study tours are useless as we are not able to do anything about it once we return home. The government should stop spending on foreign study tours for MLAs or ministers and should, instead, divert the funds to improve infrastructure in schools,” said the Calangute MLA.
Commenting on the MOI issue, Lobo also asked the government to resolve the issue instead of keeping it pending out of political compulsion.
“The government has not come out with a firm policy decision on the MOI and the same has been hanging like the sword of Damocles, creating uncertainty in the minds of parents and others. I fully respect Konkani our mother tongue, but teaching and learning in Konkani is not the ideal option in a competitive world. Children will find it difficult to study all subjects in Konkani and will later find it difficult to understand English, once they move on to Std V,” said Lobo.
“Instead, I would prefer Konkani being made a compulsory subject, while the medium of instruction should be in English, which is best understood by virtually all parents. The government should come out with a firm decision and resolve the MOI issue once for all in the interest of students, parents and others.”
Earlier, Lobo along with Fr Cipriano D’Silva, parish priest of St Alex Church, and school principal Sr Lumen Pereira cut the ribbon to inaugurate the newly laid pavers for the School compound.
Fr D’Silva later offered prayers and blessed the work in presence of the PTA members.
The government’s decision to extend the school hours only inconveniences the students, parents and teachers, said Lobo
