Chhattisgarh moves to offer primary education in 18 local languages, dialects

An Education Department official said in in tribal areas, primary school exams can also be taken in local languages and dialects

The literacy rate of Chhattisgarh is 70.28 per cent, lower than the national average of 76 per cent. (File Photo/Representational)

The Chhattisgarh government has initiated a move to provide primary education in local language and dialects in remote tribal regions as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that mother tongue or the local language be the medium of instruction at least up to the fifth standard.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed the State Education Department to develop and distribute for free bilingual books in 18 local languages and dialects, with a focus on providing high-quality educational resources.

“The new initiative of providing education in local language will also be helpful in preserving local culture and traditions,” Sai said while addressing the state-level ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ programme at Bagiya village in tribal-dominated Jashpur district.

The Shala Praveshotsav is an annual event held at the beginning of the new academic session to motivate them to enroll in schools. This year, it was moved from state capital Raipur to Bagiya, the CM’s hometown.

The literacy rate of Chhattisgarh is 70.28 per cent, lower than the national average of 76 per cent.

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School Education Secretary Siddharth Komal Pardeshi said courses will be prepared in Chhattisgarhi, spoken by 65.83% students of Class 1; Sargujiha (spoken by 9.38%); Halbi (4.19%); Sadari(3.97%); Gondi-Dantewada (2.33%) and Kudukh(0.7%).

An Education Department official said in in tribal areas, primary school exams can also be taken in local languages and dialects. “But for higher classes, it will still be conducted in Hindi and English,” the official said.

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