PANJIM: The Government warned that it would withdraw grants and recognition of those aided schools whose managements are found to have a criminal background or involved in any criminal case. The schools would also be taken over and an administrator appointed.
The much debated medium of instruction (MoI) policy was also incorporated into Goa School Education (Amendment) Bill 2014. According to the Bill introduced in the Goa Assembly by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday, government grants would be given to schools with Marathi or Konkani as medium of education at primary level, with English as one of the compulsory subjects and to the minority schools if they use bilingual books and Konkani or Marathi as one of the compulsory subjects till Class IV.
“The government shall endeavour to promote teaching of Konkani or Marathi in all schools in the State and may for such purpose frame a separate or a special pattern of assistance providing financial assistance for teaching Konkani or Marathi subject,” the Bill reads. Government has also said that the competent authority has powers to stop or suspend the aid granted to schools if found violating the provisions of the Act, after issuing proper show cause notices.
As regards recognition of schools, government said that “all schools established or aided by government are granted recognition while all those schools established by private management and not aided by government, will have to fulfill all the provisions of appropriate act and government orders for getting recognition.
At the same time, all primary and secondary school where the medium of education is not Marathi or Konkani, will have to teach Konkani or Marathi as one compulsory subject in till Class X to get recognition from government. Similarly, all schools should have English as a compulsory subject from classes I to X where the Medium of Instruction is Konkani or Marathi.
“The Government may, in its discretion, frame any scheme for promotion of teaching Konkani and Marathi in the schools as per the pattern of assistance,” the Bill stated.
At the same time, the bill proposed that the Director Education will not permit opening of any new primary school in the State until mapping of school is carried out and the need for new schools are categorically identified.
BJP-government on January 22, 2014 had announced the MoI policy, which was objected to by certain sections of regional or official language supporters. The policy is yet to be notified.
