In response to: Message: 6
Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:24:15 +0100 From: Tony de Sa <tonyde...@gmail.com> To: "Goa's Premiere Mailing List, Estd 1994" <goanet@lists.goanet.org> Subject: Re: [Goanet] Medium of instruction in Goa Dear Tony, With all due respect to you and the rest of the teachers, I do not question your professionalism in what you'll do or know. I have all the respect for the teachers, not just mine, like nursing it's a divine profession. I may be emotional in my interpretation but so are all the others who have been giving different other reasons. Now could you please give me a straight answer to the same question, if there are teachers who can get the students to learn, speak and write in English in primary, would you still support English medium ? Or do you believe that our children in Konkanni medium primary school cannot be thought English at all, even if we have qualified teachers to do it ? I am fine with the slogan that parents know what is good for their children or that parents should decide, in this case I say so be it, I have no qualms about it, but when justifications are made with all the wrong reasons, it stinks. For such an issue there should be no compromises and surely no justifications are required, plain and simple, my children, I know what is good for them nothing more nothing less. During our time, most of our parents were uneducated; one just can't say that today, can we ? Today it's the other way round as most parents are educated, so today's parents are in a better position to decide what is good for their children, isn't that right ? This is the point I want to make. The other point I want to make is the authorities should get the required infrastructure and thereafter support in place first (you yourself said about the lack of it) before they try to implement their policies. The infrastructure includes well trained teachers as their prime resources in their respective fields especially the languages. I am sure everyone will agree that most jobs in government schools and even some in private schools have been "bought" or got through influence, so quality is sacrificed at the alter of monetary gains. This is the biggest mistake in our system. I know our authorities tend to jump without seeing where they are lending, I am sure you and the rest will agree that the authorities should recruit and invest in training quality teachers who are qualified even if they do not have money to bribe, to be better educationists. I have seen teachers in a few government run schools wherein the teachers themselves do not know English, so what knowledge can they impart to the students ? I do not blame the parents nor the teachers or the students; I blame the authorities who try to get the cart before the horse. This whole controversy that has been blown out of proportions is infact what our government wants so that we get divided and stay divided so that they can rule the roost. We Goans have swallowed it hook line and sinker ! Freddy Agnelo Fernandes -------------------------------------------------------- The content of this electronic communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and any others who are specifically authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or otherwise placing reliance on the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful in certain legal jurisdictions. If you have received this communication in error please notify the sender immediately by responding to this email and then delete it from your system. --------------------------------------------------------
