Shillong,June 4:Shillong MP Vincent Pala has urged the Centre to include Khasi and Garo languages in the list of second language options in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
The Congress MP has written a letter to the Union Minister of Education Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in this regard.
“I fervently request you to consider the inclusion of Khasi and Garo language in the list of approved languages at the earliest so that the children of my state can receive the best of education,” the letter said.
According to Pala, the Khasi and Garo languages are the mode of communication -both verbal and written- for not only the indigenous residents of the state but also for large sections of the inhabitants of other states in the Northeast who have Khasi and Garo ancestry.
Moreover, a sizeable population of Bangladesh also speaks the Khasi and Garo languages.
Meghalaya has a population of around 35 lakh and 47% speak Khasi, 30.86 % speak Garo while the rest speak other languages.
Pala, however, said according to the newly published list of languages in the CBSE curriculum, Khasi and Garo languages are not included, whereas languages like Mizo and Tangkhul, spoken and used by a very small population are included in the list.
While Mizo language is spoken by around 12 lakh people, only 1.83 lakh people speak Tangkhul.
He pointed out that the CBSE affiliated schools are not popular in Meghalaya although parents are aware that CBSE is the best board for appearing in the various competitive examinations.
