Memo bats tor Manipuri medium Institutions
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 14 2021: Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Meetei Erol Eyek Loinasillol Apunba Lup (MEELAL) have submitted a memorandum to the Education Minister for establishment of government elementary school, secondary school, higher secondary school, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and a government college, all in Manipuri medium, under the Department of Social Education, Department of Higher and Technical Education and State Council of Educational Research and Training, Government of Manipur.

According to the memorandum, the National Education Policy (NEP) introduced in July 29 last year lays emphasis on teaching in mother language and teacher education.

As such, the two bodies urged the government to implement SARTHAQ Task 90 and established schools from pre-primary level till higher secondary to formally impart education in mother tongue.

SCERT, Manipur could also implement SARTHAQ Task 51 so as to recognise Imphal East DIET for carrying out training for elementary school education in the mother tongue while conducting the medium of instruction and examination in Meetei Mayek from the upcoming academic session.

For this, the state government could adopt a resolution to change the medium of instruction in the mother tongue.

The government could adopt a resolution to encourage government colleges to change the medium of instruction to the mother tongue ahead of implementing Task 275 so as to promote and protect the same, while also ensuring recognition of university courses in this regard when Multidisciplinary college and Special economic zone come into fruition under NEP 2020."Language is an indispensi-ble part of human civilization, gifted by Mother Nature.

It encourages thinking and is the unique feature which separate humans from animals.

As such, strong emphasis is given on education, as the progress and development of a society depends on the thinking and analytical ability of its members.

Thus taking part in the education process in one's mother tongue is the best, as it is the easiest medium for a person to learn and requires almost zero formality.

Every person becomes fluent in his/her mother tongue by the age of 5 years.

It is impossible to learn another's language without learning one's own.

"However, the English language is the biggest hurdle in changing the medium of instruction into one's mother tongue, as there is a stereotype that if one is not fluent in English, he/she cannot be regarded as educated or socially-apt person.

The total number of words in the English language are around 10 lakh, of which only 1,70,000 lakh is used by native English speakers, while around 20,000/30,000 are spoken by non-native English speakers.

If a person wants to do a PhD in USA, he/she could easily do so with knowledge of 8000 English words, which is 30 percent of what is spoken by native English speakers.

What is to be noted here is, that non-native English speakers will be able to speak only 8000 words, which is inadequate when it comes to pursuing education.

The biggest reason behind the inability to show our prowess in academic field ' and the high number of dropouts as class level increases is due to learning the knowledge in English.

"UNESCO has already declared Meeteilon as one of the endangered languages.

The disappearance of a language signals the death of a civilization and as such, we must continue to speak the language.

However, speaking the mother tongue does not merely mean speaking within one's family but in every strata of our life as well.

Frequent usage will bring about new meaning.

Nonetheless, it does not mean one will not be able to learn English, Hindi or any other language if one has been learning in the mother tongue as it depends on one's zeal for learning and hard work.

For this, students in higher educational level need to research on the same.

"Having knowledge of around 3000 words is enough to communicate with others.

There is no strict rule that one single language must be the only medium of instruction across the world.

Learning in the mother's tongue will remain as long as the stars exist.

It is important to make the necessary arrangements for the mother tongue with regard to NEP while there is still time," the memorandum asserted.

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