BHUBANESWAR: The electronics and IT minister Tusharkanti Behera on Thursday expressed concern over the exclusion of the Odia language from the Swayam online education portal of the Union ministry of education.
Behera said this incident will be brought to the knowledge of the concerned Union ministry.
“Under no circumstances the future of Odia students will be compromised,” said the minister.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic situation, educational institutions are closed.
Students are relying heavily on online education.
The Swayam online education portal has study material on science, engineering and technology, pharmacy, humanities and social sciences, law and management.
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These materials are being prepared by experienced professors from reputed institutions of the country and it will be available in major regional languages.
“The Union ministry of education had announced the availability of study material on this portal in total 10 languages, including Odia.
Now it is ascertained that during the translation of study material by the AICTE, the Odia language has been dropped which cannot be accepted,” said Behera.
He said the Centre has recognised Odia language as classical language.
Even Odisha is now one of the leading states in the country in terms of IT.
“Decision of the ministry to drop the Odia language courses from massive open online courses (MOOCs) scheme is unfortunate and unjust.
Centre’s move has deprived lakhs of Odia students to learn from Swayam online platform,” he added.
Behera has appealed the Centre for reconsideration of the decision of the ministry to include Odia as language for the educational platform Swayam for the sake of Odia students.