<p>The district, which borders Goa, has witnessed a steady decline in the number of Marathi schools over the past few decades. Reason: The growing popularity of Kannada schools.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This despite the mother tongue for a majority of the residents being either Konkani or Marathi. Several Marathi schools have closed down due to shortage of students and increase in Kannada medium schools. <br /><br />Marathi primary schools in Ulaga, Gotegali, Halaga, Sunkeri, Vangada, Hotegali, Asnoti, Nandanagadda, Sadashivgadh-2 and Alivevawada, Jakatkatta, San Mudageri and Gabitawada have been shut. <br /><br />Instead, Kannada primary schools have been opened on the same premises in Alivewada, Gabitwada, Jakatkatta and Sadashivagad-2 while others are functioning as anganawadi centres. Two schools in Kodibhaga and Bayikuvaribayi in Karwar town and another in Sadashivagada are the only Marathi schools functioning here at present. <br /><br />Most of the teachers in Marathi schools have retired and six to seven teachers have shifted to Kannada schools. <br /><br />Block Education Officer Srikant Hegade said: “As the Kannada schools have become more popular, a proposal has been submitted to the Border Development Authority to provide facilities such as computers, libraries, equipment for labs and sports.”<br /><br />The situation is contrary to what it was a few decades ago and this blunts the argument of organisations that seek merger of these areas with Maharashtra. <br /></p>
<p>The district, which borders Goa, has witnessed a steady decline in the number of Marathi schools over the past few decades. Reason: The growing popularity of Kannada schools.<br /><br /></p>.<p>This despite the mother tongue for a majority of the residents being either Konkani or Marathi. Several Marathi schools have closed down due to shortage of students and increase in Kannada medium schools. <br /><br />Marathi primary schools in Ulaga, Gotegali, Halaga, Sunkeri, Vangada, Hotegali, Asnoti, Nandanagadda, Sadashivgadh-2 and Alivevawada, Jakatkatta, San Mudageri and Gabitawada have been shut. <br /><br />Instead, Kannada primary schools have been opened on the same premises in Alivewada, Gabitwada, Jakatkatta and Sadashivagad-2 while others are functioning as anganawadi centres. Two schools in Kodibhaga and Bayikuvaribayi in Karwar town and another in Sadashivagada are the only Marathi schools functioning here at present. <br /><br />Most of the teachers in Marathi schools have retired and six to seven teachers have shifted to Kannada schools. <br /><br />Block Education Officer Srikant Hegade said: “As the Kannada schools have become more popular, a proposal has been submitted to the Border Development Authority to provide facilities such as computers, libraries, equipment for labs and sports.”<br /><br />The situation is contrary to what it was a few decades ago and this blunts the argument of organisations that seek merger of these areas with Maharashtra. <br /></p>
