Bhubaneswar, Jun 10 (UNI) Odisha Electronics, Information and Technology minister Tusharkanti Behera, today expressed concern over the omission of Odia language from the Swayam online education portal under the Union Ministry of Education.
Mr Behera appealed to the Ministry of education to reconsider the decision and include Odia language for the educational platform SWAYAM for the greater interest of the Odia students.
The Minister said the decision of the Ministry of Education ( MoE) on the recommendation of AICTE to drop the Odia language courses from the Open online courses scheme, is unfortunate and unjust.
The decision,he said, has deprived lakhs of Odia students to learn from SWAYAM online platform.
Mr Behera said under no circumstances the future of Odia students will be compromised and the matter would be brought to the knowledge of the Union Ministry of Education.
The study material on science, Engineering and Technology, Pharmacy, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law and Management are being prepared by experienced professors from IITs, Central Universities and IISs and would be available in major regional languages on SWAYAM online education platform.
The Union Ministry of Education had announced the availability of study material online in a total of 10 languages including Odia to ensure that language will not be a barrier for learning.
Now it is ascertained that during the translation of study material by the AICTE, the Odia language has been dropped when it was already announced, the minister said.
Odia language has a rich history and has been recognized as a classical language by the Central Government.
In terms of IT, Odisha is now one of the leading states in the country and the Odias have proven their position in the country and abroad in various fields.
Since the open online platform provides courses from UG to PG, technical, law and pharmacy education free of cost with valid certification, it could be of great help to Odia students, researchers and faculties, Mr.Behera said.
He said Odisha has extended connectivity to the remotest area of the state and students are able to get online classes conducted by schools and colleges.
This platform would help students of rural areas to access higher education in Odia language from SWAYAM portal.
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