Saturday, Jul 27, 2024 10:00 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Jul 27, 2024 04:23 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba on Friday took up
the demand for affiliating Rai, Gurung, Sherpa and Tamang languages in CBSE
with Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MoS (Education) Sukanta
Majumdra.
A press release informs that the lone Lok Sabha MP from Sikkim met
the Union ministers at their respective offices in the Parliament House and
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
During the two different meetings with the Union ministers, Indra
Hang earnestly requested them for their personal intervention to secure
affiliation for Rai, Gurung, Sherpa and Tamang languages in the Central Board
of Secondary Education (CBSE).
In 2023, the Sikkim government schools registered under CBSE
applied for the recognition of these languages for teaching up to the secondary
level. However, the CBSE declined the request stating low enrolment.
During his meetings, Indra Hang requested the Union ministers to
consider relaxing existing norms regarding enrolment and other factors, especially
for a small State like Sikkim. He argued that given Sikkim's complex and unique
demographic composition, a different yardstick should be applied, the release
informs.
He also informed them regarding Sikkim’s efforts on implementing
NEP 2020 across all the institutions. As NEP in its three-language formula gives
topmost priority to regional indigenous languages, affiliation of these
languages in CBSE is of utmost importance, he submitted.
Indra Hang also informed the ministers that Sikkim, though one of
the least populated States in India, has a unique demographic composition
consisting of many diverse communities.
To respect and honour this diversity, the State government has
recognized eleven languages as State languages and included them in the school
curriculum. Among these, Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, and Nepali are recognized by
the CBSE and taught up to the university level.
The Lok Sabha MP expressed his hope that the Union ministers would
prioritize this matter regarding CBSE affiliation and support the Sikkim government's
efforts in preserving indigenous regional languages, the release mentions.
