MARGAO: The parents and teachers associations of various schools in Salcete submitted memorandums to their respective MLAs demanding grants for English medium schools.
The memorandums were submitted to Benaulim MLA Caitu Silva, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral and Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco.
In Benaulim, the Parents Teachers Association of St Pious School, Orlim, submitted a memorandum to Caitu demanding the Cabinet note on grants to English medium schools to be enacted into an Act soon.
Responding to the demand of the PTA, Caitu said the demand of the people on MoI has to be met “as we need English to earn a living. Does government have jobs enough to employ the youth of the State? No.”
Citing an example of official correspondence in English, Caitu asked, “Why this document is in English? Why do MLAs file questions in English? Some MLA’s don’t know to speak in Konkani, but only English. And when it comes to students, why propagate Konkani?”
“Give choice to the parents,” demanded Caitu opining, “They are on to finish the minorities. This committee (advisory committee on MoI) has been instituted to pass time.”
Chrysler Marquis, a member of PTA of St Pious School, said, “They have made another committee and it is a tactic to delay. We are not against grants to anyone. Give grants to all.”
In Curchorem, the executive committee of PTA along with the parents of Our Lady Mother of Poor High School in Tilamol, Perpetual Convent Primary in Kakoda, Fr Agnel Primary School in Cabral and submitted him a memorandum.
Cabral informed the visiting parents that the new advisory committee on MoI has been formed since the earlier committee focused its advisory only on the minority community.
Responding to Cabral, the parents said that they were demanding the implementation of the recommendation of the previous committee and did not distinguish between minority and majority.
In Curtorim, the parents of St Rita School, Maina, submitted a memorandum to Reginaldo on the medium of instruction issue.
“We first had a meeting of the parents to discuss the issue, following which we submitted the memorandum to the MLA. We asked him that the present committee that has been formed be rejected and that he raise the issue in the assembly and support our demand that the bill on MoI that was drafted earlier be tabled,” said Simon Barreto.
Barreto said that the parents demanded that the MLA come on the street with them when they protest in the event their demands are not met by the government.
Barreto warned that the parents would stage a rastka roko and criticised the government for not fulfiling demands of the people. Reginaldo assured the parents that he would support their demands on MoI.
