Govt approves education in mother tongue

The State government has approved four local Naga dialects up to Class X level and above, while 18 local dialects were approved up to elementary school level as a subject. This was stated by chief minister Neiphiu Rio in Nagaland Legislative Assembly while replying to a starred question by NPF legislator Dr. Chotisuh Sazo on the number of local Naga language approved for taking up in schools up to Class X and above. On tribal literature board seeking government approval for languages to be taken up in secondary school level, Rio replied that the request was received for 13 tribes – Chang, Chokri (Chakhesang), Khezha (Chakhesang), Pochury, Sangtam, Yimchunger, Khiamniungan, Phom, Konyak, Rengma, Zeme (Zeliang), Liangmai (Zeliang) and Kuki. 
He further announced that the government was setting up an Institute of Naga Languages under the directorate of school education to look into Naga tribal languages. However, a definite time frame could not be made at this juncture, he added.

कश्मीर: मोदी सरकार के लिए कठिन परीक्षा के सात दिन
During a supplementary question on the starred question by Sazo on Naga tribal languages approved as a subject, his colleague Kuzholuzo Neinu alleged that it was a case of pure deprivation and discrimination for other Naga tribes when local languages were not developed along with advanced tribes – Ao, Angami, Lotha and Sumi – till secondary level,
Responding to Neinu, school education adviser KT Sukhalu said there was no fund from Government of India to develop local Naga languages. He added that barring the advanced tribes, languages of the remaining 14 Naga tribes were approved as subjects till elementary level and yet to approved by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) till secondary level.
In his supplementary question, Sazo pointed out that other Naga tribes would not be able to compete with advanced tribes in local language subjects if they were approved late. In this regard, Yitachu from NPF also questioned why the government was finding it difficult to implement the subjects till secondary level when the cabinet had already approved.
Explaining the shortfall position in the department, Sukhalu informed the House that there were only 90 local teachers in the State and unless NBSE approved the textbooks, the subject could not be taught in the classroom. In the course of clarification, Sazo asked the adviser why the department was not approving textbooks written by certain tribes, adding it should not wait to approve all tribes’ languages at one go.
Taking part in the discussion, leader of opposition TR Zeliang questioned the department why it rejected 13 tribes’ literature committee textbooks when they could manage themselves and bring out the textbooks. Terming it as discrimination and strange, he asked why the department had to stop them when the textbooks could be brought out by the respective tribes with their own finance.
As opposition MLAs raised their demands, Rio intervened and gave assurance that the department would look into and take up the matter and whichever tribes qualified, they would be considered. 

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