Team Herald
PANJIM: Ministers and MLAs who just weeks ago handed over a written assurance to parents and teachers that the Medium of Instruction (MoI) Bill would be brought before the House in the next Assembly Session, are now uncertain about passage of the bill that will legalise grants to English medium primary schools.
The legislators, who signed the assurance letter submitted to Forum for Rights of Children to Education (FORCE) clearly state that the passing of the Bill, currently pending before the Select Committee headed by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, is not in hands of eleven legislators.
BJP MLA Subhash Pal Dessai said, “Government has already taken a decision and that decision needs to be incorporated into the Act. Now, it is for the select committee to clear the bill and send it to the Assembly by the next session. At the same time, I will make it clear that at no cost will the government allow more English medium primary schools,” he said.
His colleague Nilesh Cabral expressed similar feelings and said that passing the Bill is not in the hands of the 11 members. “We assured FORCE to place the MoI matter before the House, but we cannot assure that it would be passed. It is for the majority to pass it or it has to be unanimously passed,” he said.
Industries Minister Mahadev Naik refused to comment stating, “We will see when the matter comes in the House…there is time.”
This uncertainty come despite Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announcing on the Floor of the House that the Bill would be tabled in the Assembly’s winter session due in December 2015-January 2016.
FORCE secretary Savio Lopes was on indefinite hunger strike since July 27 demanding that the Bill be introduced and passed during the now concluded Monsoon Session of the Legislative Assembly. With the government not responding for nearly five days, parents blocked the national and State highways across the State on July 31 paralyzing normal life for a while. The agitation was strongly condemned by sections of society and was also discussed in the Assembly.
After much debate, 11 MLAs, including three ministers, from the ruling combine, including Independents and Goa Vikas Party (GVP) legislators, met the parents on August 3 with a written assurance based on which the hunger strike was called off.
However, GVP legislator Caetano Silva said the assurance makes it clear that the government has promised to pass the Bill and settle the matter. “Grants to English medium primary schools have to continue,” he quipped.
The new debate cropped up when MLA Pramod Sawant said the Bill will be tabled but he cannot assure that there would not be any changes. “The bill was sent to the select committee as there were certain discrepancies. Now, whatever decision the government takes, I am with the government,” he said.
