MoI committee not a delaying tactic on part of govt: CM

PORVORIM: The opposition took on the government over the medium of instruction (MoI) issue on Tuesday during discussion on education demand in the assembly.
CM Laxmikant Parsekar defended the formation of the apolitical committee to advice the government on the vexed MoI issue even as opposition members claimed that it was only a “delaying tactic” till assembly elections.
Stung by the biting criticism, Parsekar said contrary to claims by opposition legislators, the advisory committee was formed for wider consultation and seek expert advice on the issue. “It is not to buy time as claimed by some opposition members,” said Parsekar, and added “the committee has started its work, held its first meeting, while schedule for the next four meetings has been decided”.
Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai, Congress MLAs Digamar Kamat and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco slammed the government over MoI, and doubts were raised about functioning of the committee. They pointed out that neither Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) nor Forum for Right to Children’s Education (FORCE), the two groups that have taken opposing stand on MoI, have accepted the advisory committee headed by Bhaskar Nayak.
Besides BBSM and FORCE there are others also, who have the interest of students close to their heart, the chief minister maintained.
Further, Kamat pointed out that some school managements were violating rules while granting admission, to which Parsekar said that centralized admissions for primary schools can be started in Margao on an experimental basis. The former chief minister said merit should be the criteria for admission in primary schools, but school managements sought donations from parents.