Education in colonial Goa could be divided into two phases: prior to 1928 and from 1928 to 1961 Prior to 1928: As far as Goa's villagers were concerned their only access to education was the parochial school run by each village church.It was headed by a Mestri who was at the same time the choirmaster during the religious ceremonies. He was more interested in teaching violin and conducting hymn singing which were, to say the least, Padre Vigario's pet conerns. During the sparetime he coached sons of higher confraria members in the 3 Rs.i.e. reading, writing and arithmetic with the hope that some of these students will join the Seminary at Rachol. Music ( do re mi ) was concentrated on the sons of lower confraria members . the 3 Rs being politely and cunningly denied to them so that they could not stand a chance of joining the Seminary and thus have low caste padris. In all these underhand machinations the mestri had full support of the Pe.Vigario.
1928 - 1961. When Salazar became dictator in Portugal , he immediately issued orders that each village whether in Portugal or in colonies should have an escola primaria imparting education in the Portuguese language. The Goan village had a primary school churning out students with primeiro and segundo grau certificates. Parochial schools were now deserted ; after all the latter with the Seminary at Rachol were bastions of casteism. But by the beginning of the thirties, parents realized that Portuguese education was economically a cul de sac. so they students started heading for the few English medium schools which were mainly in towns. Up to 1961 one could not classify church in Goa as a poor organization for each village church was the biggest landord inthe village with revenues from paddy and coconuts and yet by 1961 the majority of Goan catholics were abysmally poor and illiterate. Post 1961. The very first step that the post liberation govt took was to make education freely available . The Govt started paying salaries of teachers irrespective of who owned a school. The Goa Church joined the band wagon and now each village Church has its own English medium school. Looks like Church's love for the poor Goan catholic trully blossomed after the Liberation of Goa. PS. The above information is given to the best of my perception .Corrections, if any, are most welcome.
