Mangalore: First Batch of Konkani Produces 100% Results in SSLC

By Naveen Gurpur
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, May 22: Konkani lovers have a reason to cheer as all the students who appeared for the SSLC exam-2012 in Konkani came out with flying colour, securing cent percent results.

As many as 60 students of 6 schools appeared for the exam that was held on Friday, April 13. For the first time, the subject was introduced in the SSLC papers as a third language in the state of Karnataka. This is the first batch to write Konkani subject.

Ancy D'Souza, Thokkottu and Shanti Samantha D'Souza, Udyavar

Ancy D’Souza of Nithyadhar High School, Thokkottu scored 98 marks and bagged the first place, Shanti Samantha D'Souza of St Francis Xavier's School Udyavar secured the second place by scoring 95 marks in the subject. The students of St Sebastian High School of Permannur, Pompei High School of Urwa, Medalin High School of Mulki, St Francis Xavier’s School of Udyavar and Kulur High School were others who appeared for the exam in the state for Konkani as a third language.

"The 100% result has doubled our joy and the stability of the language is strengthened", said Vitori Karkala, secretary of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan. On this occasion, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and Konkani Prachar Sanchalan highly appreciated the efforts to bring Konkani in the text books, he added.

 The academy had initiated the plan long back and in due course, the Kumaraswamy government agreed to include Konkani as a third language (optional) in the syllabus on March 7, 2007.

Prior to the implementation, the then academy president Eric Ozario along with the team introduced experimental teaching of Konkani outside the curriculum for as many as 55 schools of DK and Udupi districts. Based on the good response, the academy sought help of the government to make Konkani as the third language. Earlier only 6 schools has chosen Konkani as third language for SSLC exams, in the year 2011 the language spread in 80 primary schools of 6-10 standard and 24 high schools.

Devadas Pai, the Registrar of the Academy, informed that the framework of syllabus with the help of language teachers is done to continue Konkani teaching even in PU.  “We have submitted the report to the government, if government permits, the academy will shoulder the responsibility to do the needful”, he added.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Eric Ozario, Gurkar, Mandd Sobhann, expressed his joy and said this is another milestone. "We hope to work even harder to introduce Konkani in pre-university and degree level", he added.
 
In addition, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan freely distributed the text books to the Konkani students. Every year, the Sanchalan conferred ‘Best Teacher Award’ and incentives to those who taught Konkani language.

As many as 140 teachers were felicitated last year. Moreover, training programme was introduced for the teachers, to bring in greater efficiency in teaching the language.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Roy Castelino, president of Konkani Prachar Sanchalan said that the efforts are on to motivate the schools to take up Konkani as third language which in return has yielded good response.

"We may not find a big number of students appearing for Konkani in SSLC for the next two years but then afterwards, we will have a good response as presently there is a large number of students who have opted for Konkani in the 7th and 8th standard", he explained.

The ‘Sanchalana’ has started a post of executive secretary solely for the promotion of Konkani language. The competitions are introduced to encourage young generations, he opined.