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Engali elbowing out Nepali?
- Holy smoly, pidgin will ruin youths’ future: Teachers
KATHMANDU, MAY 12 -
Except for the faithfuls, many youngsters at most colleges in the Capital grumble at having to study Nepali compulsorily.
Looking at the noisy Nepali classes in colleges, it is clear that many students majoring in subjects like Science, Commerce, English Literature and others are not happy at the inclusion of Nepali in their course. Are the students intent on ignoring the national language, Nepali? Or, have the experts and curriculum-designers erred in not meeting their aspirations halfway?
“We can communicate in Nepali, and that is enough,” said Upasana Regmi, a B.A. 1st year student at St. Xavier’s College. “We should have the liberty to study only the subjects that we are interested in.” She added that those willing to go for higher studies in Nepali have the choice of Major Nepali too, so the inclusion of Compulsory Nepali in the curriculum at the Intermediate as well as Bachelor level is redundant.
Academicians, educationists and curriculum practitioners beg to differ. “All this is sham, such students pretend to be ultra-modern and think learning Nepali is an archaic exercise,” said Deputy Director of Curriculum Development Centre Shambhu Dahal. “It is a matter of serious concern that our society is producing a barrage of youngsters who know niether correct English nor correct Nepali. These “hybrid speakers” belong nowhere. It will create communication problems.”
Suggesting a solution to the problem, an administration department staffer at the Nepali Department of Tribhuvan University, Shyam Krishna KC said teachers should change their teaching methods to make classes more interesting.
“A Nepali citizen neglecting Nepali language is simply ridiculous. Such disregard for the mother tongue is seen among many youngsters today,” said Professor Hari Prasad Parajuli. “Those making noise and disturbing the class do not represent the ones positive about this subject.”
Parajuli’s argument does hold water. Many students, both in government and private colleges, are still serious about Nepali. “We get an opportunity to read Devkota, Rimal, BP Koirala, Bhupi Sherchan and Shanker Lamichhane,” said Amit Adhikari, a student at White House College. “And if we ignore this stream, it will be a great mistake.”
Arati Regmi of Kanya College said some students make fun of the Nepali subject and its teachers. “They are driven by the notion that Nepali is their mother tongue and that they can easily score pass marks,” she said.
The students in favour of Nepali subject are riled that some of their friends are ignoring their own mother tongue. “The government and authorities concerned should get serious about this,” said Krishna Dangi of St. Xavier’s College. “Something should be done to restore the students’ zeal to learn Nepali.”
Posted on: 2010-05-13 08:27
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