Goan Education At Its Best

Trends are changing; Goa is attracting youngsters from other nations. Hold on to your horses as it's not the International Film Festival of India I am talking about but actually the education.

Let me specify this in a much simpler manner: we've been having foreigners coming to Goa as tourists but now we also have them coming to Goa as students. Surprised? This was my reaction. For generations we have been having Goans going to other places for better education.

Anyway wouldn't you like to know where these youngsters are actually from? Well I was thoroughly curiosity. Thus, I thought of interviewing some of them. I asked each of them a couple of questions to which they all answered sincerely. My dear friend Bola Adisa, a native of Lagos-Nigeria says,"Goa is a really safe place to reside in unlike Nigeria. I wouldn't be afraid of leaving my door open all night while I am asleep. Secondly, the teachers in India spoon feed. In Nigeria, it's more of lecturing rather than proper teaching." In Nigeria they have the WAEC (West African Examination Council) conducting the examinations and their exam structure is such that they have board exams for students of standard VI, IX and XII and those with high scores are generally granted scholarships. For those who didn't ever go to school, they have the GCE (General Certificate Exam) so that they can get the required degree and avoid getting the tag of a non-graduate. She also feels that Goans have a really friendly approach thus its easy to mingle around.

In countries where the medium of instruction is in Arabic, most of the students prefer to move out. One such student is Mohammad Idris, a native of Sudan, according to whom the syllabus in Sudan is all in Arabic and not very advanced, thus he had to move out. "But why India-a developing nation? And why choose Goa of all the places in India? There were better places where the education was better," I asked him.

"I chose India because of its good standard of English. Furthermore the cost of living is average. So also, India being a democratic country, we Arabs get more freedom and are not held in suspicion. India is usually the destination for African and Arab students for higher studies. I chose to come to Goa as I heard that Goans are really friendly with foreigners, the environment is good for study and there is less population. Besides, accommodation to easily available at average costs. I am humanitarian. I want to do my Masters in Economics and Politics and change the current situation in Sudan, like an improved economy, democracy and unity between Christians and Muslims. Sudan is in crisis now and needs me", he replied sincerely.

Another country wherein the medium of instruction is in Arabic is our very own neighbour- Afghanistan. Yes, many Afghani youngsters are able to move out of the country now for better education and most of them have come to Goa. Farahi Shah Zaman, better known as 'Shah' is one of them. He and many of his other Afghani friends are specially sent to India to get an education. It is the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan that gives the students, both boys and girls, scoring 90 per cent and above special scholarships.

So, now Goa is not only a perfect tourist destination but also an ideal place to study in. In another way, it also reveals how much the education in Goa has improved. So if in case you're planning to go beyond Goa for further studies, think about it once more! Anyways, thumbs up to Goa!!

By Nida Sayed
The Sunday Navhind Times, Panorama
Sunday October7, 2007

Posted By : Nida Sayed, Goa, India on 07/10/2007