THE OLD SETTLERS OF SIKKIM

SIBLAC urges HRD Ministry for inclusion of Bhutia,Lepcha & Limbu languages in NIOS school curriculum

The Siblac continues its hectic schedules in New Delhi approaching with different authorities of the Union Government. Today it submitted a memorandum to Mr. Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for the Human Resource Development at his Shastri Bhawan Office, New Delhi.

To
Mr. Kapil Sibal Ji
Hon’ble Union Minister
Human Resource & Development Ministry
Government of India
301, C-Wing, Shastri Bhawan
New Delhi

Sub: Inclusion of Sikkimese Bhutia, Lepcha & Limbu languages in the curriculum of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Class X & XII and Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE)’s school curriculum.

Hon’ble Sir,

In the best interest of the aspiring students of the Sikkim and the adjacent Himalayan region and driven by your conspicuous zeal to turn the Indian education system to a more practical and accessible one in consistent to the all-pervading global changes by initiating some of the best concept alias judicious revolution, I would like to submit the following:
That;

1. Sikkimese Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu languages are the recognised official tribal languages of the State of Sikkim and lingua franca of the Sikkimese people.
2. That all the three languages have its own well developed language, scriptures, grammars with considerable progression in their respective art and literature fields.
3. These languages are incorporated in all the academic curriculum / syllabus of the Central Board of Secondary School (CBSE)’s Class X and Class XII programmes.
4. These languages are also included and taught upto the Degree level programme of the Sikkim University.
5. Unfortunately, these three languages remained unrecognised and unincorporated in any of the NIOS programmes curriculum and syllabus, thus denying a bulk number of under privileged students belonging to the above cited categories of Sikkimese Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu languages.

Under the circumstances, I solicit your most considerate intervention to the effect that:

1. The above mentioned languages of the Sikkimese Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu is immediately recognised and incorporated in the Class X and Class XII programmes, curriculum and syllabus of the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and in all the Jawahar Nabodaya Vidhalaya Institutes operating in the State of Sikkim from their academic sessions 2011.

2. The Sikkimese Bhutia and Limbu languages are immediately recognised and incorporated in the Class XII and Class X programmes, curriculum and syllabus of the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) with immediate effect from the ensuing session of 2011.

With highest regards.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia
Former Minister, Sikkim
Dated: June 24, 2010 Cum
Camp: New Delhi Convener, SIBLAC