PANJIM: The much-contended Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue seems to have swept under the carpet, as two years down the line, the Government appointed expert panel is yet to submit its report. It would have helped the State to zero upon the MoI policy for the students at the elementary education.
The 17-member panel headed by educationist Bhaskar Nayak was formed more than two years ago on July 15, 2016.
While the consultation with schools, parents-teachers association (PTAs) and other stakeholders was completed almost six-seven months back, the panel chairman is yet to start writing the report that would give necessary recommendations to the government on the medium of education at primary level.
The panel that was supposed to submit its report within 120 days of its formation, has already been granted five extension, with the last one having lapsed on December 31, 2017. The panel has conducted total 14 meetings across State with school management, PTAs, pro-Konkani and Marathi language supporters and with those in favour of English as MOI.
When contacted, Nayak said that he has already initiated to draft the report but due to some family medical issues, the same has been on hold for last one month. “There are some serious medical issues in family and hence I am not able to focus on the MOI report for last one month. I have also informed the government about the same. But I will draft the report as soon as possible and submit,” he said.
Sources revealed that the panel had committed consultation almost seven months back and was suppose to submit the report before beginning of the current academic year in June.
The committee was constituted for wider consultation and facilitation to the government to decide on the MOI issue ahead of 2017 polls. The panel had to study the entire system of grants and financial support to the government aided schools for primary education and make necessary recommendations so as to improve its overall efficiency for achieving the educational goals of the State.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the floor of the House during the monsoon session, last year, had ruled out to make any changed in the government’s grant-in-aid scheme for the schools.
The State Government 2014 cabinet decision had resolved to continue grants to all 137 English medium primary schools, that saw massive protest from the anti-English protagonists.
