Arrange schooling in mother tongue for indigenous kids
Indigenous leaders and members of the civil society yesterday urged the government to take initiative to arrange education in mother language for the indigenous children.
They said this while speaking at a discussion titled 'Right to education in mother tongue' at Madhabkundo Punjee Education Centre in Barlekha upazila of the district.
They said education in mother language would help cut the dropout rate of indigenous students from primary schools.
Aloghar Project and Caritas Sylhet Region organised the meeting sponsored by the European Union and Caritas France.
Mihir Ghagra, president of the management committee of the education centre, presided over the meeting.
Mihir urged the government to introduce the Khasi language for their children to make lessons enjoyable to them.
Dabi Khain, a guardian of the punjee, said they want quality education to increase children's ability to learn their own language and also to lessen dropouts and increase attendance in schools.
Media personality Abdur Rob in his speech as the chief guest said the responsibility of the government is to ensure that the textbooks are written in the Khasi language. Rob hoped that the government would take immediate steps to save the language.
Head of the Madhabkundo punjee Wanbor L Kiri, Donbosco Khongstia and Aloghar Project education supervisor Sajal Borokurmi spoke at the programme moderated by Cholti Marlia, head teacher of the education centre.
Aloghar Project Regional Manager Pius Nanuar said the government needs to introduce mother tongue-based primary education in indigenous areas."It will encourage our indigenous children to go to school," he added.
District Primary Education Officer of Moulvibazar Sirajul Islam said multi-lingual education programme is important for the indigenous children as it would enhance their language skill as well as increase attendance at schools.
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