Konkani to be optional language in schools

Konkani to be optional language in schools

Mangaloretoday News Network

Mangalore, March 21: The coming academic year will mark a milestone for the efforts of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy in introducing Konkani as optional language for students in schools in the state. The first batch of students who opted for Konkani as their optional language in 2007, the year Konkani was introduced as the third language, will appear for SSLC examination. The academy is observing this through Konkani Learning Awareness Campaign.

The academy has chosen street-plays to spread the message of the importance of learning Konkani among students, their parents, and school managements in the campaign that got underway here on Saturday. The campaign will be held every weekend till April 10 with street-plays of 30 minutes, being staged at 24 select locations across DK and Udupi. Srikar Prabhu, BJP city south assembly constituency president flagged off the campaign.

Kundapur Narayan Kharvi, president of the academy said the response to Konkani as the third language in schools has been positive and there has been no single failure rate in the examinations conducted over the last four years. It is a matter of pride for the students to be learning their own language and this perhaps explains the results, he said, adding, since the subject is taught in Kannada script, learning the language becomes easier for the students.

At present, Konkani is being taught in 56 higher primary schools and 24 high schools in the state, mostly in the coastal districts, with around 1,800 students learning the language. The department of education is providing the necessary training to staff to teach the subject through District Institute for Education Training and the Department of State Educational Research and Training and is helping the academy by preparing the textbooks needed.

The street-play titled `Shivm Jhalen Gadavn’ (lion that turned donkey) is directed by Ronnie Crasta and Ivan D’Silva and is performed by a 10-member troupe. Kharvi said the momentum created in introducing Konkani as an optional language will be furthered through this awareness campaign and the academy hopes to enthuse more parents from Konkani-speaking communities to coax their children into taking up Konkani in schools.