90% primary students opt for English, govt tells HC
PANAJI: The state government on Thursday filed an affidavit before the high court of Bombay at Goa stating that over 90% of the students in government-aided primary schools have opted for English as the medium of instruction (MoI).
The government's reply was in response to a petition filed by educationist Pandurang Nadkarni and three others challenging the recent cabinet decision for providing grants to English medium primary schools in the state and the subsequent circular issued by the issued by the directorate of education (DoE).
The affidavit stated that the state cabinet took the decision after receiving several representations from parents from economically backward class, who could not afford to send their children to English Medium Schools.
The government informed the court that according to the cabinet decision, the government will release grants to English medium primary schools and also those opting for Konkani and Marathi.
The government also stated that one subject in Konkani or Marathi will be compulsory from Std I to Std X.
A monitoring committee has also been set up to ensure that the schools follow the norms laid down while giving the grants and schools have to ensure that they have proper infrastructure in place for implementing the medium of instruction decision before the grants are released, the affidavit stated.
During the hearing, the petitioners lawyer, senior advocate Atmaram Nadkarni, told the court that he would like to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by the government and prayed for time till Tuesday.
A division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice F M Reis then directed the petitioners to file reply to the affidavit on the next date of hearing, on July 12.
It may be recalled that the petitioners have pointed out that the circular issued by the directorate of education shows 'total non application of mind'.
While alleging that the Rules of Business as provided under Article 166 of the Constitution have been violated while issuing the circular, the petitioners said that the decision should have been implemented in a phased manner from the pre-primary level and not forced upon the students.
The government's reply was in response to a petition filed by educationist Pandurang Nadkarni and three others challenging the recent cabinet decision for providing grants to English medium primary schools in the state and the subsequent circular issued by the issued by the directorate of education (DoE).
The affidavit stated that the state cabinet took the decision after receiving several representations from parents from economically backward class, who could not afford to send their children to English Medium Schools.
The government informed the court that according to the cabinet decision, the government will release grants to English medium primary schools and also those opting for Konkani and Marathi.
The government also stated that one subject in Konkani or Marathi will be compulsory from Std I to Std X.
A monitoring committee has also been set up to ensure that the schools follow the norms laid down while giving the grants and schools have to ensure that they have proper infrastructure in place for implementing the medium of instruction decision before the grants are released, the affidavit stated.
During the hearing, the petitioners lawyer, senior advocate Atmaram Nadkarni, told the court that he would like to file a rejoinder to the reply filed by the government and prayed for time till Tuesday.
A division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice F M Reis then directed the petitioners to file reply to the affidavit on the next date of hearing, on July 12.
It may be recalled that the petitioners have pointed out that the circular issued by the directorate of education shows 'total non application of mind'.
While alleging that the Rules of Business as provided under Article 166 of the Constitution have been violated while issuing the circular, the petitioners said that the decision should have been implemented in a phased manner from the pre-primary level and not forced upon the students.
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