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Thursday, March 01, 2007

Cabinet nod to include Konkani in curriculum - Konkanis thrilled over decision

The Cabinet decision to introduce Konkani as third language in school curriculum has thrilled Konkani speaking people in the coastal region.

While a few learnt about the Cabinet decision through television channels, many others learnt it through word of mouth.

Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy President Eric Ozario, whose top priority was to introduce Konkani in school curriculum ever since he took over the reigns of Konkani Academy way back in 2005, was thrilled to hear the news.

Terming the Cabinet decision as historic, Mr Ozario said the Cabinet nod has increased the “value of the language.”

In fact, the Academy had introduced Konkani in school curriculum on experimental basis last year and as many as 1,586 students (in 6th std) are learning Konkani in about 55 schools in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. The final exam for the same has been scheduled on March 3, he informed.

Meanwhile, he also said that the experimental classes will be stopped from this year, as the Cabinet has given its consent to introduce Konkani as third language (optional) in school curriculum.

Mangalore Diocesan Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that the Cabinet decision would help Konkani further flourish. “The language will grow if it is taught in schools,” he said.

When contacted, Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskrithi Pratistan President Basti Vaman Shenoy said that it does not matter in which language Konkani is taught (Kannada or Devnagari script). “The fact that Cabinet has given its consent to introduce Konkani in schools is joyful,” he said and hoped that Konkani literature will develop in future.

Meanwhile, State Linguistic Minority Educational Institutions Secretary Dr Kasturi Mohan Pai said that the he was happy with the Cabinet move as the decision to learn Konkani in Kannada or Devnagari is left to the students.

The order states that Konkani may be introduced in schools (6th std to 10th std) in Kannada script or Devanagari script as third language (optional) from June 2007 itself.

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