FORCE comes to the fore again on MoI July 20, 2013 Says govt has only fooled the parents during the last one year TEAM HERALD MARGAO: Asserting that they would not tolerate any further dilly dallying by the government on the Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue, parents under the banner of FORCE on Friday resolved to set a deadline on the government to honour the promises of constituting the Academic Authority to decide on the matter and to work out a permanent solution. The Executive Committee of FORCE will now soon meet to decide and set on the time frame for the government to fulfil its promises. Addressing the meeting at the Grace Church hall this evening, Secretary of the Diocesan Society of Education, Fr Zeferino D’Souza said that a strong message should go to the government that parents mean business and that the government must decide on the MoI issue within a time frame. “The Academic Authority was promised long back, but it has not materialised till date. Secondly, the government must tell the parents when it will give a decision on the MoI. The government must tell whether it will solve the issue or not. It cannot dilly dally and fool the parents on the issue. We will take our decision. There’s a limit to our patience,” he asserted. He told the parents that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had promised to bring about an amendment to the act and rules. “Only an amendment to the act and rules will bring about a permanent solution to the MoI issue,” he said, adding, “We have to take the three-year old long struggle to its logical conclusion.” “This message should be taken to all schools and parents. The government cannot say no to parents. The 2014 Lok Sabha polls are coming. The MoI will not be an issue for elections, but the government should settle the issue of parents before the polls,” Fr Zeferino asserted. Asserting that certain forces are out to curtail the freedom of parents, Fr Zeferino demanded to know whether the parents are slaves or free citizens of this country. “We are not in Egypt or Syria. We are living in a free and independent India. The Constitution has given us the freedom to speak, learn, and educate. The RTE has not imposed any restrictions on the medium of instruction. It only speaks about free and compulsory education till Std VIII,” he added. FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes said the government has only fooled the parents during the last one year by making committees without coming out with any tangible solution. “The time has now come to resume our movement. We will continue our just struggle till our demands are met,” he asserted. FORCE has also decided to take up with the government the issue over mid-day meal scheme and other issues. http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/FORCE-comes-to-the-fore-again-on-MoI/77152.html