Efforts on to revive Tulu and Konkani in coastal schools
Mangaluru: Tulu and Konkani, widely spoken in the coastal districts, were introduced as third-language options in select schools. However, over the years, student interest in learning these regional languages has gradually declined.
In response, the Konkani and Tulu sahitya academies are trying to revive this interest.
The govt introduced Konkani as an optional third language between classes VI and X from the academic year 2007-2008. It was able to attract good number of students from undivided Dakshina Kannada, but currently, there is no school teaching the language through the academy. One of the reasons for the decline in interest in Konkani is the ongoing issue over which script to adopt, Kannada or Devanagari.
Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy chairman J Stany Alvares said that efforts are on to reintroduce Konkani in schools again, which previously had good takers for the language. Currently, less than five schools teach Konkani in the Devanagari script, and it is not connected to the academy. "We are planning to reintroduce it from the next academic year. Prior to this, the academy is planning to have a 'Shikshana Samavesha' in each education block, to convince schools to take up Konkani as a third language.
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Also, the academy is considering initially hand-holding these schools that start teaching Konkani," said Alvares.
Tulu was introduced as a third optional subject in the academic year 2010-11. The number of schools teaching the language increased to 45 until 2019, but dropped due to issues in the payment of remuneration. "Teachers teaching Tulu in schools across undivided Dakshina Kannada were paid Rs 30,000 per year as an honorarium.
There were no separate funds from the govt, but it was paid from the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy fund.
However, the teachers did not get paid from 2019, and it forced schools to stop. The number of schools currently teaching Tulu has reduced to 27," said Tharanath Gatti Kapikad, chairman of the academy.
Kapikad said that they are trying to clear dues of teachers. They are further writing letters to school heads and also meeting them in person, urging them to include Tulu. "There is also a proposal to include Tulu teachers as guest teachers in the school. We have spoken to the state government in this regard, and if all goes well, it is likely to happen next academic year," said Kapikad.
The academy also gave away cash prizes to those candidates who scored 100 marks in Tulu in the SSLC exam. Additionally, this academic year, they are distributing free notebooks to those learning Tulu.
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