Mother tongue should be medium of instruction in schools: CM

Reiterating Goa government's stand that mother tongue should be the medium of instruction (MoI) in schools, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar today told the Legislative Assembly that the state would, however, continue giving grants to those schools imparting education in English.
"Some people are trying to play politics over the MoI issue. Our stand is clear and it remains the same. Mother tongue of the child should be the medium of instruction in school. The child can grasp better if taught in mother tongue. He understands the concept better," the Chief Minister told the House.
"However, we will continue to give grants to 135 schools, which are teaching in English. These schools will get protection in grants provided to them. There are some rumours spread that government will stop their grants. They are not true," Parsekar said.

The Chief Minister said the government's stand supporting mother tongue as the medium of instruction does not keep the child away from learning English.
"Teaching English and teaching in English are two different things. We have introduced English as a subject from first standard onwards in all the schools," he said.
The Chief Minister said there are two different thoughts on MOI - one supporting Konkani and Marathi and another English.

"Both the factions have contradicting ideologies. Goa will not benefit from such confrontations," he commented.
Parsekar told the House that section of people are trying to get mileage from the differences.

"Some people want to get mileage from the differences. We should ensure that their attempts must not result in communal disharmony in the state," he added.