Agartala, January 9:During the third day of the winter session of the Tripura Legislative Assembly, Opposition Leader Animesh Debbarma raised a significant issue concerning students appearing for the Kokborok subject in CBSE-affiliated schools in Tripura.
Specifically, he advocated for students to have the choice to write their answers in Bengali and Roman script, similar to examinations conducted by the Tripura Board of Secondary Education.
Debbarma expressed concerns about the upcoming February examinations, where approximately 5000 students from various schools are set to appear for the Kokborok language. However, they currently have no option but to write in Bengali, a language that may not be comfortable for many students.
He emphasized the need for students to have the option to write in Roman script.
Addressing the issue, Debbarma demanded that Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is also the Education Minister, should address the matter and write a letter to CBSE, urging them to provide students with the option of writing in Bengali and Roman script for the Kokborok subject.
In response, Chief Minister Saha informed the Assembly that a three-member committee, led by former MLA Dr Atul Debbarma, has been assigned to workout the issue. The government is awaiting the committee’s report before taking further action.
However, Opposition Leader Debbarma countered the Chief Minister’s response by suggesting that, while waiting for the committee’s findings, the Assembly should decide to write a letter to CBSE through the Directorate of Kokborok. This letter would request the provision of allowing students to write in Bengali and Roman script for the upcoming examinations, ensuring the educational future of around 5000 students is not compromised.
Supporting Debbarma’s stance, CPIM senior MLA Jitendra Chowdhury stood and pointed out that in the state’s education system, there is already an option to write answers for Kokborok in both Roman and Bengali, from lower-level classes to university levels.
He highlighted that when given the option, 99 percent of students prefer to write in Roman script and so the government can at least write to CBSE for providing both options.
In response to these concerns, Chief Minister Saha assured the Assembly that the government would write to CBSE, urging them to allow students the provision of writing Kokborok subject answers in both Bengali and Roman script.
