MAPUSA
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has stirred a debate over the declining enrolment in government primary schools, stating that these institutions will continue to shut down unless the Medium of Instruction (MoI) is changed to English.
He suggested that Konkani and Marathi should remain compulsory subjects in the syllabus but insisted that primary education should be imparted in English.
Lobo emphasised that language should not be mixed with education.
“How long will we turn a blind eye to this problem? We are only fooling ourselves. Most Goans prefer enrolling their children in good English medium schools, which is why government primary schools are shutting down,” he said.
Currently, the MoI in government-run primary schools is either Konkani or Marathi. While acknowledging that these are the mother tongues of Goa, Lobo pointed out that even those advocating for regional languages send their children to English medium institutions.
“There is no dispute that our mother tongue is Konkani and Marathi. But the reality is that well-to-do families ensure their children get an English-medium education,” he added.
Lobo also criticised the government’s recent move to hand over primary schools to NGOs, calling it a misguided step.
“I believe this is the wrong approach. The government needs to take the necessary decisions to improve the situation,” he said.
Highlighting the decline in student enrolment, he cited the case of the Parra Government Primary School, which once had four divisions but now has only one.
“Earlier, 90 per cent of students in this school were Goans. Today, that number has dropped to less than 1 per cent,” he revealed.
Lobo clarified that he is not advocating for English but merely pointing out the reality of the situation.
He also raised concerns over the government’s expenditure on teachers and infrastructure, arguing that schools ultimately shut down within a few years due to lack of students.
With the medium of instruction controversy continuing to affect schools, Lobo stressed that children should not suffer due to political or ideological debates.
