(SENT to the Editor of herald on 13/4/2011)
Medium of Contradictions
Sir,
After perusing the opinions shared in the Herald over the last couple of weeks
by several proponents for konkani as the medium of instruction at primary
level of education, what I have been able to gather is only hypcroisy and a
bundle of contradictions. While some proponents admitted to have imparted an
English primary education to their kids and justify it with excuses of
compulsions due to mental challenges, others have gone on to mock at the type
of English spoken by many goans which they label as 'konklish' in the
assumption that they are masters of classical English.
First and foremost, the benefits of a primary education in konkani that gets
propagated are all assumptions and not based on any scientific studies carried
out in Goa. Several biases of religion, caste and language prejudices appear to
have creeped into the arguments in favour of konkani as the primary medium of
instruction. The scientific arguments that primary education in one's mother
tongue is beneficial to the development of the child's mental faculties is
based on clinical studies carried out in a controlled environment that has
provided for the basic physical, spiritual and psychological needs of a child
and the teachers.
What does one expect in the case of konkani language which is still in the
evolution phase without a proper lexicon and grammar. There is no
scientifically approved syllabus and training material in konkani to impart
training to teachers. We have not succeeded in ensuring that students have
access to hygienic toilets and basic nutrition. Leave aside the miserable state
of the classrooms in many of our villages. But a bunch of urban elites are
happy citing studies when we have not yet suceeded in taking care of the
physical and spiritual needs of the child.
So, if an under nourished child in the village with a low haemoglobin count of
8, or a child traumatised every day with controlling her bladder due to the
pathetic state of school toilets does not perform well in an English medium
school, can the medium of instruction be at fault? If a child does not have a
conducive atmosphere at home and is not able to perform in school, should the
medium of instruction be blamed? Should the mother tongue of Goan child be left
to the whims and fancies of a bunch of fanatics?
-Soter D'Souza
Socorro
