Three years ago, Sunita Pangi decided to quit studies as she failed to understand Odia, which was the medium of instruction at her school.
The class-II student of Telrai Primary School in Potangi block only knew 'Kuvi', a tribal language.
A workbook in Kuvi, with Odia translation and pictorial presentation, helped her pick the language. Now in class-V, she can read and write Odia confidently. The book was prepared by a voluntary organisation, Sova.
"In pre-primary stage, tribal children at anganwadi centres feel lost with the alien Odia, which shares no similarities with their language. They fail to follow classroom teaching and soon lose interest in studies," said secretary of Sova, Sanjit Patnaik.
The Koraput-based organisation has prepared study materials in Desia, Kuvi, Gadva and Paraja, said Patnaik.
Officials of district primary education programme admitted to the need to educate tribal students in their own language. "A total of 374 multilingual education teachers were appointed this academic year for the benefit of students," said district project coordinator (Koraput) Muralidhar Swain.
Officials said 400 schools with 70 per cent to 90 per cent monolingual students were identified during a survey.
"We have prepared alphabet and numerical charts in Bhatra, Bhumiya, Gadava, Paraja and Kuvi languages and these have been distributed in primary schools. Study materials in these five tribal languages will be printed soon," Swain added.
