Bhubaneswar: In an initiative intended to protect, preserving and promoting the cultural traditions of the rich society, the Odisha government has decided to come up with textbooks in 21 tribal languages.
The SC / SC / SC (SCSTRI) Research Institute (SCSTRI) in relation to the Academy of the Tribal Language and Culture (ATLC) has developed this textbook to class V which will be included in the curriculum in the school run by the development of SC / ST State State of the State of the Department of the Session Academic 2022.
Books will have topics such as folklore, art and crafts, music, songs, and fairy tales that have enriched the tribal community.
They will also load and document puzzles and stories in tribal language.
“Delivering the initial education to students in their mother tongues is as important as incorporating values, traditions, behavior and cultural practices.
This will help preserve and document their culture and help children easily understand and remember lessons,” said Premalanda Patel , Senior tribal domain expert in SCSTRI.
Patel said to develop content for textbooks, several teams visited The Tribal Hinterlands and studied the practice and lifestyle of these communities.
“The customary community is a source of primitive and positive elements, which must be preserved and promoted among the next generation.
After the books are ready, it will be the responsibility of the teachers to announce this extraordinary wealth of knowledge among children, “Damayanti Besra said, a leading Santali writer, researcher and award-winning Shri Padma.
Odisha has 62 tribal communities that speak 21 languages ​​where seven have their own scripts.
The main tribal languages ​​include Santali, Ho, Koya, Munda, Bonda, Kishan, Ganda, Desia, Kuvi, Kui, Gabba, Soura, Juanga, Bhumija, Binjhal, Bhuyan, Sadri and Khadia.
Experts say triggering education in tribal language have several challenges, especially a lack of adequate teachers.
In addition, housing schools have various proportions of students from different tribal communities.
To help non-tribal teachers interact and teach in tribal language, SCSTRI and ATLC has also developed workbooks, bi-lingual dictionaries and tri-lingual skills modules in 21 tribal languages.
“The books have been developed in such a way that children’s transition can be easier than their maternal language in regional language,” Patel said.