Kohima: Nagaland School Education Advisor Dr. Kekhrielhoulie Yhome wants more institutional support for local tongues. He addressed the Association of Nagaland Literature Boards at Platinum Hall in Kohima on July 17. Languages keep culture alive. Yhome stated, "Language is the cornerstone of identity and cultural continuity."
The government relies on the National Education Policy 2020. It pushes for mother tongue education early on. Schools now receive teachers matched to the local linguistic makeup. Still, progress remains slow. Many tribal languages lack formal academic recognition. This makes hiring qualified teachers difficult for the state.
Yhome wants universities to offer undergraduate and graduate courses in indigenous languages. These programs would create a pipeline for certified instructors. The School Education department is now working with the Department of Linguistics at Nagaland University to boost research. Literature boards must also push for standardized orthographies and professional translations.
Additional Director Deenabandhu Panda noted that the state has taught tribal languages in schools for 35 years. Starting this year, these languages are included in the curriculum from Class IX. He urged communities to protect smaller dialects alongside major tribal languages. Ura Academy Vice-President Daso Paphino reminded the crowd of their history. Rev. Sidney W. Rivenburg brought the Tenyidie alphabet to Kohima in 1887. The movement for preservation continues today.
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