Goa govt defends decision to form panel on MOI

Goa government today defended its decision to set up a committee on the contentious issue of Medium of Instruction (MOI) in schools.
"Politicians are supposed to run government. Several times there is an imminent possibility of politicians taking wrong decisions to reap the benefit. That is why we have decided that let the experts from education field decide on MOI," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said here.
He also appealed to school managements, parents, teachers and common people to present their views before the advisory panel, headed by educationist Bhaskar Nayak, formed recently.
Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), a forum demanding withdrawal of grants to English medium schools and declaration of mother tongue as MOI, has opposed the formation of advisory committee, calling it a "game plan of Parsekar-led government to drag the issue".

Parsekar, a teacher by profession, said the decision in the educational field needs to be taken carefully and with balanced thinking.
"Hence, the advisory committee formed by us have educationists from all strata of society. The committee is largely comprising educationists except a lawyer who has been represented there due to suggestion by Advocate General," the CM said.
Parsekar said the Nayak panel will analyse suggestions from various sections, including school managements, teachers, parents, experts and even common people, before preparing their report on MOI.
"State government will consider their report which would be based on the inputs from various sections. This report would be a base for the state Cabinet to decide on MOI issue," he said, adding the government has an honest intention behind forming the committee.