Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05 2009:
A two day meet on imparting Manipuri language education to students till class XII was opened today at GM Hall here.
The opening function of the meet, organised by the Maheiroisingda Meeteilon Tamhannaba Takshinba Lup, was attended by general secretary of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad BM Maisnamba, chairman of the Maheiroisingda Meeteilon Tamhannaba Takshinba Lup Ng Yumjao, AMWJU president S Hemanta, film maker Ibomcha Langpoklakpam and Prof L Aruna of Manipur University as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.
In his speech, chief convenor of the Maheiroisingda Meeteilon Tamhannaba Takshinba Lup, Paonam Thakaba Meetei observed that Meeteilon is the lingua franca of the different communities of Manipur.
Though the language is a compulsory subject till class VIII, the same subject has been made an optional subject after class VIII and this has become a major factor for the downfall of Manipuri language, he observed.
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Saying that all students studying in Manipur should be made Meeteilon literate, Thakaba asserted that the Education Department should take up necessary measures to make Manipuri language a compulsory subject till class XII from the academic session of 2010 .
S Hemanta noted students studying in mission schools and private schools are being compelled to speak English once they enter their school campuses.
The students are speaking English not because they know the language but they are told to parrot what they are taught.
As such, the students are unable to speak neither English nor Manipuri fluently, he said.
This does not mean English should be discarded.
While learning English, the lingua franca of the land should also be promoted with due importance, he said.
Although the Manipuri language is now taught at university level, what is happening at the lower level is pathetic, Prof N Aruna said.
Under the existing system, young students are being deliberately weaned away from their own language.
If the existing system is followed for another 10 years, there would be no student eligible to claim a Degree in Manipuri language, she said.
Ng Yumjao called for a change to the existing system of making Manipuri subject an optional subject after class VIII.
In the afternoon session, Prof Nongmaithem Tombi and Lecturer Waikhom Romesh of GP Women's College presented papers on different topics relating to Manipuri language as resource persons.