The announcement comes in the wake of a controversy over the medium of instruction in primary schools with many people advocating that the government should encourage English medium schools while some political leaders arguing in favour of local languages.
However, the 100-odd schools which had changed their medium from Konkani or Marathi to English during the last academic year would continue to receive grants, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said.
The decision not to withhold the grants was taken considering the fate of about 25,000 students studying there, he said.
Stating that the government plans to encourage schools imparting primary education in local languages, he announced one-time grant of Rs 12 lakh for new primary schools in Konkani and Marathi.
Besides, these schools would be given an annual grant of Rs one lakh for next five years.
The government has also announced additional sops like maintenance grant, salary grant for non-teaching staff and an appointment of additional teacher for imparting English language skills in these schools.
Parrikar said that around 250 additional teachers in government-run schools and 200 in private schools would be employed on a regular basis.
Expressing concern over the condition of government-run schools, he said, "there are 500 schools with less then 30 students in all the four classes together."
The government has also decided to form a committee of educationists who will study the future of primary education in Goa and submit its report in a year.
