Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Mar 22: The state government's decision to cancel permissions of 21 Konkani and Marathi medium primary schools have evoked strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata
party (BJP).

The Goa BJP has strongly condemned government's decision to cancel permission of 21 Konkani and Marathi primary schools from next academic year dubbing it as an attempt to encourage English education in the state.

"This is a meticulous move by Education Minister, Luizinho Faleiro, to promote English education in the state by discontinuing Konkani and Marathi primary schools," BJP Goa chief Rajendra Arlekar told reporters here today.

The State Government has cancelled permissions of 21 primary schools run by private educational institutions. These schools were handed over to these institutions during erstwhile BJP rule in the state.

"If you go through the record, it is clear that these schools were performing well. When they were handed over to private institutions all schools combined together had 164 students an currently 318 students are studying in it," Arlekar stated.

The BJP has termed Government's move as "conspiracy to encourage English education in the State."

"With no other options left, the parents will have to admit their students in English medium schools debarring them from getting education in local languages," Arlekar stated.