DIANA FERNANDES;
PANJIM: Fr. Zeferino D’Souza, secretary of the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE), has been at the centre of the rare show of discontent by this key church body which prompted the Pastoral Secretariat to call Catholic MLAs to push to sign a memorandum against the Parsekar government’s denial of permission to open schools and expand classes in remote areas. In his first interview since the issue reached centre stage, he rejects the government’s reasons for rejecting applications for new schools
Herald: What do you make of the government’s decision of not granting permissions to several diocesans higher secondary schools?
Fr Zeferino D’Souza: We were unhappy. Schools were reopened and we had asked for one primary, four higher secondary and up gradation of one primary school and one B.Sc, B.Ed college that was applied for over a year ago because these are all what the parent’s wanted. For the girl children attending higher education, their security is of prime importance.
For example in Canacona, there is only one government higher secondary school opened while the next one is very far away. Where we had asked, there was no other school. We wanted to promote our high school students for college. So to get good quality education, our students had to go to Cuncolim or Margao to get good education. All our schools that we have asked for are in remote areas like Usgao, Pernem, Bicholim and Morjim, not a single one is in an urban area. Naturally as schools reopened we were concerned and with this issue in mind we called the MLAs. The Archdiocesan Board of Education was the organisation that called for the meeting.
Herald: Several people and parties in Goa are saying call for a meeting with only Catholic MLAs?
Fr Zeferino: Not at all. Maybe we will go to other MLAs later. In the past we have approached the chief minister with MLA Pramod Sawant. Whoever can help we ask them. We have cordial relations with all MLAs. Next time we may invite all the MLAs. There is no communal colour at all.
Herald: Some MLAs including BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral has said that the move to give a memorandum signed by Catholic MLA’s is communal and divisive. Your comments.
Fr Zeferino: Parents are concerned and they are the ones asking for it and if these are parent’s demands, why does the government not listen? Our commitment is to the poorer sections and the majority are non-Christian students. We would expect the government to take us into consideration since we are sincere about our work.
Herald: The government recently made a statement that there are sufficient schools in the areas you wanted to set up schools. Are you saying this is wrong?
Fr Zeferino: Absolutely. How can they say there are enough schools when students have to travel far to get quality education? For example in
Canacona, students don’t go to government schools. Just because parents don’t raise their voices doesn’t mean everything is fine. With more students this year, that statement is absolutely wrong.
Herald: As per the MoI policy, it has been said that no new minority schools would be given funding if they register as English medium schools.?
Fr Zeferino: As part of the MoI bill, the cabinet clearly says that minorities would be allowed to open English medium schools. Of course it is yet to be a bill but it was this government that approved it in the cabinet note. And please take note, that we have written to the department of education that instead of English medium we would like to open our primary school in Morjim in Konkani.
Our school in Bhatpal has till the fifth standard and now the department is denying us sixth standard. Once permission is given for fifth you cannot stop for the sixth and subsequent classes. Schools opened on the 8th of June and the letter denying sixth standard reached us on the 10th. The application was sent in November last year, where can we send students when they’re already in the class?
