Konkani Academy submits syllabus for Konkani in schools

Bangalore: The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy today submitted the syllabus for introduction of Konkani from standard six to ten in both Government and private schools from the next academic year.

Speaking to newspersons after submitting the syllabus to the textbook authority here, Academy Chairman Eric Ozario said Konkani could be used as an optional third language in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to start with. There were over 320 schools run by managements dominated by Konkani speaking people.

There was no dearth of Konkani teachers in these schools, he noted.

He said the Academy would organise training programme to these teachers so that Konkani could be taught using Kannada script.

Mr Ozario said Karnataka had over 25 lakh Konkani speaking people belonging to various communities, 14 lakh more than those in Goa where Konkani was one of the official languages.

Explaining the activities of the Academy, he said various programmes for the development of the language had been organised in over a decade, which included publication of books, honouring Konkani writers and promoting competition among children. It had also honoured 49 eminent Konkani speaking people for their service in various walks of life, he added.