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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by Mrs. Daisy Faleiro If you would like to sponsor Goanet's operations contact: Herman Carneiro - [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --- Sunith Velho <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Selma, It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why > the Goans from the > coast(predominantly Catholics) are reaping the least > benefit of Goa's > tourism boom or the Indian economic boom. If you > can't think beyond being a > waiter or tourist taxi driver then there is no > point complaining that > others now own all the restaurants, hotels, travel > agenicies and shops. It > is equally pointless to blame the education system > when you can't find a job > with a pass class non-professional degree. ----------------------------- Dear Sunith, It's 12am in the US, where I currently reside. Earlier this evening I spoke to my biologist brother who also resides in the US, and later this morning I'll speak to my brother, the doctor, who is currently in Goa. All three of us are children of one of those "Gulfies", you so derisively refer to. So, as to your first contention that all Gulfies carry crates in the Gulf, let me not dignify that with a response. As to your second contention that children of all Gulfies grow up to carry crates in the Gulf and have no other aspirations than to be taxi-drivers or open up STD booths, let me also not dignify that with a response. Let me say however there is a big disconnect between what the privileged sons and daughters of Goa can reap as reward and what the masses can look forward to. A good education system levels the playing field. It makes available not just opportunity but also aspiration, motivation and the inclination to climb higher and reach further. A good education system exposes the mind to ideas, challenges limitations, taps into creativity and makes possible the impossible. It is not adequate that financial aid is made possible. It is more important to have the type of facilities in terms of libraries, first class teachers at every level, books, research labs, proper class size (the average size in Goa by the way is 60 per class. Please compare this with an American 15-20 per class), sport facilities, music, lack of environmental stressors (one school in Margao overlooks a garbage dump, many don't have chairs or tables in the villages), availability to information such as the internet (even though the computer scheme makes computers available, it doesn't supply the software needed to make it viable). These are just a few of the things an education system should encompass and when made available to everyone, is successful in leveling the playing field between the rich and the poor. Please don't try to defend the indefensible. You've been the beneficiary of good fortune. I hope you use your good fortune to realise the misfortune of others. selma ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss an email again! Yahoo! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/