MoI issue: Govt's claim of 90% pupils opting for English challenged

Updated on: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Educationist Pandurang Nadkarni, who has filed a petition challenging a recent cabinet decision on the medium of instruction, stated before the high court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday that the government's claim that 90% of students have opted for English as the medium of instruction in government-aided primary school is incorrect.

Nadkarni questioned the government's claim in a rejoinder filed by him in response to an affidavit submitted by the state government to the high court. The affidavit states that the government would implement the medium of instruction circular from the current academic year .

While terming the 90% figure given by the government incorrect, Nadkarni alleged that "there have been a number of cases where force and undue pressure has been exerted on the students to opt for English". "Schools established and managed by the Diocesan Society and missionaries have vested interests in shifting to English as MoI. There is no independent authority or machinery for the purpose of verification or redressal of complaints," Nadkarni said.

The rejoinder states that only 15 aided schools in the state presently have Konkani/Marathi as medium of instruction. Out of these 145 schools, 130 are managed by the Diocesan Society. Therefore the figure of 90% as projected by the government does not portray a clear majority, Nadkarni contended. On the other hand , the government affidavit states that any roll back to Konkani and Marathi as the only medium of instruction would 'sound unreasonable' as 90% of students have opted for the English medium.

In the affidavit, the state government also stated that the directorate of education, had in a meeting assured that books would be available by August 10, 2011, to all students.

The court will next hear the petition on July 20.

Times of India

MoI issue: Govt's claim of 90% pupils opting for English challenged

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