Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA) - Pics - Dayanand Kukkaje and Praveen Tauro

Mangalore, Jun 28: The much awaited and ambitious project of introducing Konkani in schools as optional language was realized with the launching of the programme at Sandesha here on Wednesday June 28 evening.

A special programme was organized on Wednesday evening which was presided over by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Eric Ozario who is the main force behind this entire project.  Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore was the chief guest of the programme. Noted businessman from Bangalore Ronald Colaco and Konkani activist and writer K Ramesh Kamat was the guest of honour on the occasion.

The programme was inaugurated by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza.  A specially designed Konkani text book "Ieia, Konknni Xikuium" was released by Ronald Colaco.

As reported earlier Konkani will be taught as an optional language in 52 schools in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts from the current academic year. 

A book has specially been designed in this regard by a team of experts which will serve as the text book.  The academy has appointed teachers to teach Konkani to the students.  A day-long training was organized for these teachers on Wednesday June 28. 

The training was inaugurated by Fr Wilson Vitus D'Souza, secretary of Catholic Board of Education on Wednesday morning.  The training concluded with the launching of the programme in the evening.  All the teachers who have come forward to teach Konkani were felicitated on the occasion.