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Textbooks will be supplied to schools by June

 Going by the indent received by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy to supply textbooks, there are no takers for Tulu as an optional language in schools of Udupi district. The authorities have not received any demand for textbooks.

Tulu was introduced as the third optional language for class six in 2010-11 and class seven in 2011-12. It has been introduced for class eight from last  academic year and class nine from this academic year.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy Registrar Chandrahas Rai said “we did not receive any indent for Tulu textbooks from Udupi district. We received good response from Dakshina Kannada district. The Department of Public Instructions had placed a demand for 170 textbooks for class six, 265 for class seven, 505 for class eight, and 213 for class nine.” 

“We had sought indent for textbooks from DDPI in the month of December, to ensure that students get textbooks without any delay. The Academy is ready to supply textbooks as per the indent as soon as the schools reopen in June.”

“The Block Education Officers had collected the indent for textbooks from schools. The books will be printed by the Karnataka Textbook Society. If we fail to give indent on time, then they can not print and supply by June,” he added.

Schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi had not received Tulu textbooks on time last year, owing to the fault of the education department.

“The BEOs had not submitted indent for the textbooks on time. As a result, we could not supply textbooks. We have taken precautionary measures this year to supply textbooks,” he said.

With the repeated request from the Academy, the Department of Public Instructions had placed a demand for 12,879 textbooks for the class six for schools in two districts last year. The demand placed for the class seven books from schools in the two district had stood at 13,316 (12,859 from Dakshina Kannada).

“As we were shocked to get such a huge demand, we verified and found that majority of the students who had opted Hindi were also demanding Tulu textbooks to study as an additional language. Many students had expressed their desire to learn Tulu as an additional language and not as an optional language. However, the State government does not allow to study Tulu as an additional language,” Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy Registrar said.

Hindi over Tulu

On no response in Udupi, he said “we had motivated BEOs to create awareness among students on the beauty of Tulu language. However, during the interaction with the students and parents, many felt that learning Tulu will not help their livelihood. Hence, many students prefer Hindi.”

Tenth std book

The textbooks for tenth standard is getting ready, as Tulu will be in class ten during 2014-15. Two rounds of meeting have been held by the Textbook Committee to finalise the syllabus. The syllabus is likely to be finalised with another two meeting within two months, he said.

He said that the Academy with the help of DIET is ready to hold refresher courses for the teachers who teach Tulu as an optional language.