http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Local%20News/PARENTS-HAVE-SPOKEN/49553.html
PARENTS HAVE SPOKEN *School:* Shantadurga High School (Bicholim) No. of students in primary: *550* Parents opting for English: *0* Parents opting for Marathi: *550* Parents opting for Konkani: *0* “We along with parents feel that medium of instruction should be in Marathi. A child should be taught in his/her regional language, as they understand it better than any other language. None of our ex-students had any problem after learning through Marathi medium school.” - *Suresh Ghatwal, School Principal* “I strongly oppose the move of teaching our children in English. It is only when base is strong and is done through their mother tongue that they could understand it properly.” - *Sham Naik, government servant* “I feel that English is essential, but the mother tongue should be medium of instruction at the primary level. If English is introduced at the primary level, there are chances that only one language might improve and other languages will take a back seat. In the long run, this would be harmful as the students might be left with no knowledge about the place they live and their own culture.” - *Sujata Chari, teacher* “A child should get primary education in the regional language, as it is the language that they hear right from their birth. It is a wrong concept that only English at primary level could bring about all-round development and improve our language.” - *Tulshidas Pal, engineer* (*Inputs from Samir Umarye*) My question to the contributors to the subject of MOI: Are these parents Goan? Do their views matter? Do their views matter more or less than that of the Kangress High command i.e. Sonia Gandhi who approved English as MOI? Do you know that this result might be replicated in hundreds of other primary schools across goa? Anil Desai
