From: [email protected] On Behalf Of floriano Subject: Re: [Goanet] WILL ENGLISH MOI CREATE A PARADIGM SHIFT IN GOANPOLITICS?
<<The hullabaloo that is ongoing with ENGLISH as the medium of instruction is nothing but a massive effort to SAVE MARATHI in GOA... <<That 'English' has come in as the rescuer of 'Konkani' to behead Marathi Mauxi once and for all has brought the Marathiwadas to the streets as a last resort to save Marathi in GOA. Having failed to take GOA lock-stock and barrel into Maharashtra, this is a death blow to them. When this breed is talking of KONKANI, as MOI they mean MARATHI. <<I have always been solidly for KONKANI Medium Primary schools in GOA with English as an extended subject simultaneously so that the transition from Primary to Secondary is smooth and easy... <<<That Marathi or English is not Goa's mother tongue is an accepted fact. ,,,IT (Marathi) IS NOT GOA'S MOTHER TONGUE as these Marathiwadas and communalists are trying to tell the people of Goa. **Dear Floriano, I do agree with you totally. Let those who wish to study marathi go to marathi schools. But even in marathi schools, Konkani should be taught as the first language. There are not two "matru-bhasha" in Goa. Marathi is not the mother-tongue of Goan Hindu communities. English should be taught from the beginning. It is easier for children to learn, first the Roman script, and then devanagari, which will be useful for both Konkani and Hindi. Konkani should be taught in both scripts. I have seen text books for Konkani. Most lessons are written in "marathized" Konkani. Let them learn the standard Konkani spoken, or rather written, in Goa. I taught Konkani some years back in the english medium school, and now am teaching konkani textbook for XIth standard. Then textbooks were different. Teachers of konkani should also know english and give the students meanings in english. Students will love to learn both konkani and english. From the beginning I was of this opinion. Where were at that time, when Goans were fighting for Konkani, those who are fighting now for "matru-bhasha" with the slogan "Amkam Konknni zay", but are teaching marathi to their children (and some of them are sending their children and grandchildren to english schools)? A couple of years ago, a Hindu physician was telling me that he studied marathi and there was no problem for his konkani. I studied portuguese for years, and then Konkani-Marathi for one year only. I had no difficulty to learn and write in Konkani. But those times are gone. Now Konkani should be taught as the main language together with English. Konkani written in our reviews should be used. Otherwise, children will hate Konkani. Let them study also portuguese, french, sanskrit, german in the VIIIth standard. This problem should be solved with care. Let better sense prevail! Regards. Fr.Ivo
