Multilingual method of teaching at primary level: Arresting dropout rate among tribal students – Odisha

Times of India, 12 August 2015

KORAPUT: A set of seven story books in tribal languages with Odia translation have been introduced in some primary schools in Koraput district in a bid to check the dropout rate among tribal students. […]

“Most of the tribal students at primary school level face difficulty in understanding Odia and drop out,” said Sanjit Patnaik, secretary of a voluntary organisation which has prepared the books in association with NEG-Fire, a Delhi-based organisation.

The books consist of pictorial presentation of tribal folklore with Odia translation so that the teachers could easily converse with the students.

“Earlier, we had prepared word books in tribal languages with Odia translation and introduced them in 34 primary schools in Pottangi block. The result was very encouraging. The word books helped the tribal children learn fast,” said Patnaik, secretary of voluntary agency SOVA.

Officials expressed the view that the tribal students should get their education in their own language as unlike other children, they grew up in the lap of nature. […]

We plan to introduce it in other schools, which have around 70 to 90 per cent monolingual tribal students,” said district welfare officer (Koraput) Trinath Rao.

Source: Tribal language books introduced to check dropout in Odisha – Times of India
Address: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Tribal-language-books-introduced-to-check-dropout-in-Odisha/articleshow/48450520.cms
Date Visited: Sun Jan 24 2016 21:15:35 GMT+0100 (CET)

[Bold typeface added above for emphasis]

Related