Edited By Sangeeta Das
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha is considering the introduction of the Roman script for Kokborok, a significant tribal language in the State. The CM, who also holds the education portfolio, has announced plans to write to the Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE requesting permission for students to write Kokborok papers in the Roman script.
Currently, Kokborok is taught in Bengali script in the State Government educational institutions, including 97 Vidyajyoti schools following the CBSE curriculum.
Kokborok, the mother tongue of many tribes in Tripura, currently lacks its own script. The move to introduce the Roman script comes in response to a demand from Opposition leader Animesh Debbarma.
Approximately 5,000 students, who studied in various English medium schools, are encountering difficulties in CBSE examinations as they were not taught Bengali.
To address the matter, the government has formed a three-member committee, led by former MLA Atul Debbarma, to investigate and provide recommendations on the selection of a script for Kokborok.
CM Saha emphasized that the State faces challenges in terms of books in Roman script and the availability of trained teachers for preparing questions and evaluating answers in that script.
The final decision on the script for Kokborok will be made after the committee submits its findings.
