Odisha’s Minister of Electronics, Information, and Technology, Tusharkanti Behera, recently expressed his concern over the exclusion of the local language, Odia, from the Union Ministry of Education’s ‚Swayam online education portal‘. This omission has sparked outrage among the Odia-speaking community, as it poses a significant barrier to learning for students in the state.
In a statement, Minister Behera emphasized the importance of ensuring that Odia students have access to educational resources in their native language. He stated, „Under no circumstances, the future of Odia students will be compromised.“ This strong stance highlights the minister’s commitment to promoting and preserving the cultural and linguistic heritage of Odisha.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forcing schools to shift to online learning, the availability of educational resources in regional languages has become more crucial than ever. Minister Behera noted that the Odisha government has been working tirelessly to improve network connectivity in remote areas like Malkangiri district to facilitate online education for students across the state.
The Swayam online education portal offers a wide range of study materials in various subjects, including science, engineering, technology, pharmacy, humanities, social sciences, law, and management. These resources are curated by experts in their respective fields and are available in major regional languages. However, the exclusion of Odia from this platform has raised concerns about the accessibility of quality education for Odia-speaking students.
Minister Behera expressed his disappointment at the decision to drop Odia language courses from the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) scheme, calling it „unfortunate and unjust“. He highlighted the impact this decision would have on lakhs of Odia students who rely on online resources for their education.
The minister also pointed out that the exclusion of Odia from the Swayam portal undermines the efforts of the state government to extend connectivity to remote areas. He urged the Ministry of Education to reconsider its decision and include Odia as a language option on the SWAYAM platform to ensure equal educational opportunities for Odia students.
In conclusion, Minister Tusharkanti Behera’s advocacy for the inclusion of Odia in the Swayam online education portal reflects his dedication to promoting linguistic diversity and ensuring that all students in Odisha have access to quality educational resources. His efforts to address this issue underscore the importance of preserving regional languages in the digital age and ensuring that no student is left behind in the pursuit of knowledge.