Multilingual edn system for indigenous children urged
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Experts at a seminar in the city Monday underscored the need for multilingual education system at the primary stage for the country's indigenous people for their proper learning, reports UNB.
They said teaching either only through their mother tongues or only through Bangla and English will not be effective and sustainable as it cannot help them reach the threshold of the modern world.
Citing findings of a research report, Dr Mejbah Kamal, a noted researcher on indigenous issues, told the seminar that some 94 per cent of indigenous people still use their mother tongues instead of Bangla. "Again when an indigenous child grows up, Bangla will be his marketing language and English is the international language. So, we cannot ensure their balanced education only using one language."
Manusher Jonno Foundation arranged the seminar titled 'Going to School: Challenges in the Chittagong Hill Tracts' at CIRDAP auditorium in the afternoon with its executive director Shaheen Anam in the chair.
Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury addressed the programme as the chief guest, while Chief Adviser's (CA's) special assistant for CHT Affairs Raja Debashish Roy and sociologist Sadeka Halim of Dhaka University (DU) as special guests.
Dr Mejbah Kamal, also a professor of DU's History Department, said the multilingual education has to be community-based one.
"Two things-incorporating mother tongues of the communities alongside Bangla and English in an indigenous-friendly syllabus- are important to ensure the effectiveness of the multilingual education. The education system will have to be community-based one, as each of the aboriginal group has its own language," he said.
Alleging that many schools in the CHT areas do not want to admit indigenous children, Dr Mejbah urged the government for enacting a law in the country to remove the discrimination.
They said teaching either only through their mother tongues or only through Bangla and English will not be effective and sustainable as it cannot help them reach the threshold of the modern world.
Citing findings of a research report, Dr Mejbah Kamal, a noted researcher on indigenous issues, told the seminar that some 94 per cent of indigenous people still use their mother tongues instead of Bangla. "Again when an indigenous child grows up, Bangla will be his marketing language and English is the international language. So, we cannot ensure their balanced education only using one language."
Manusher Jonno Foundation arranged the seminar titled 'Going to School: Challenges in the Chittagong Hill Tracts' at CIRDAP auditorium in the afternoon with its executive director Shaheen Anam in the chair.
Women and Children Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury addressed the programme as the chief guest, while Chief Adviser's (CA's) special assistant for CHT Affairs Raja Debashish Roy and sociologist Sadeka Halim of Dhaka University (DU) as special guests.
Dr Mejbah Kamal, also a professor of DU's History Department, said the multilingual education has to be community-based one.
"Two things-incorporating mother tongues of the communities alongside Bangla and English in an indigenous-friendly syllabus- are important to ensure the effectiveness of the multilingual education. The education system will have to be community-based one, as each of the aboriginal group has its own language," he said.
Alleging that many schools in the CHT areas do not want to admit indigenous children, Dr Mejbah urged the government for enacting a law in the country to remove the discrimination.