PANJIM: The Goa government on Wednesday modified its much debated medium of instruction (MoI) policy to conform with the Supreme Court verdict by separating the two aspects –grants in aid and recognition. The policy would be implemented from the ongoing academic year, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
Addressing media persons soon after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Parrikar said that the government has modified the current MoI policy as per Supreme Court order passed in the case pertaining to Karnataka. “There is no change in the earlier policy, except that as per Supreme Court order we have split the policy into two areas — grants and recognition,” he explained.
The BJP-government on January 22, 2014 had announced the MoI policy, which is yet to be notified.
Without making any major changes in the policy, which was adapted by the state cabinet on Wednesday, the government allowed grants to schools which have Marathi or Konkani as the medium of instruction at primary level with English as one of the compulsory subjects. Minority schools too will get grants provided they use bilingual books and Konkani or Marathi as a compulsory subject. The minority schools have been given ‘freedom of choice’ for selecting the medium of instruction at the primary level. On the recognition front, government has said that “all schools established or aided by government would be granted recognition, while all those schools established by private management and not aided by government, for getting recognition would have to fulfill all criteria according to the appropriate act and government orders.
At the same time, all primary and secondary schools where the medium of education is not Marathi or Konkani, will have to teach Konkani or Marathi compulsorily till Class X to get grants and recognition from government. “No new schools shall be permitted till mapping is done. Admission shall be allowed on the neighbourhood concept,” the chief minister said.
Parrikar, who is the education minister said that in the ensuing assembly session the policy would be passed as an act and then notified.
“I believe that primary education has to be in the mother tongue but also considering various aspects, sometimes freedom of choice has to be given,” Parrikar said. The Supreme Court decision, which was pronounced by a five-judge bench has constitutional implications, he opined.
The state policy that was announced in January had made instruction either in Marathi or Konkani compulsory in all aided schools from the academic year 2014-15. However, minority schools have been exempted from this policy and allowed to continue their instruction in English, with conditions to make use of bilingual text books for all subjects.
While the state had taken its decision, the apex court in a recent judgment ruled that the choice of medium of education lies with students and parents and government is bound to provide free and compulsory education to all students.
Policy to be implemented this year
Government modifies medium of instruction policy by separating the concept of grants and recognition.
Grants to government schools with Marathi or Konkani as MoI at primary level with English as one of the compulsory subjects
Grants to minority schools, but they must use bilingual books and have Konkani or Marathi as one of its compulsory subject. Minority schools given freedom of choice to select MoI
No government grants to private schools
