KOKRAJHAR: The Bodoland Students’ Union (BSU) and other wings of BPF- Rajbongshi Cell, Minority, Gorkha, Adivasi Cell and Youth wing have called on the Vice Chancellor of Bodoland University (BU) on Friday and submitted a memorandum demanding the repealing of order of Education department asking students to write only in English in major and professional subjects in UG programmes in the affiliated colleges of BU.
The president of BSU Ssgwmsar Basumatary in their joint memorandum said Bodoland University was established in the year 2009 for the fulfilment of higher educational hopes and aspirations of the people of BTC area. As the students of this area were deprived of in admissions in other universities of the state, it was established as a fruit of long struggle of Bodoland movement. Hence, it is the main hope of the people of this area for taking higher education, he said adding that the notification order of Bodoland University which reads Memo No. BU/ACA/167, dated: 26/06/2023 has created apprehension among the guardians, teachers, intellectuals, civil society organizations and students community that such initiative of the university will deprive the students in pursuing higher education and gathering knowledge in mother tongue and it will be a strong negligence and hindrance towards the Assamese language and medium of instruction and it may create chaos and misunderstanding among the Assamese language speakers and others.
The memorandum said many colleges of BTC area were affiliated under Bodoland University and students are pursuing their degrees of honours/general courses in Assamese medium of instruction in UG programmes. However, as per the latest notification order, if English is imposed as medium of instruction for UG honour courses it will be a great injustice to the students’ community and different communities living in the BTC area especially the Koch Rajbongshis, the Adivasi, the Gorkha, the muslims, the Nath-Yogi, the Santhals, the Bengali, the Rabhas, the Garos and others those who prefer Assamese medium of instruction as the easiest way of learning and gaining knowledge will have to face tough language problem in higher studies. They also said Bodoland University had been offering Master Degrees in 17 subjects/disciplines which is very less in number in compared to other universities of Assam.
Therefore, on the basis of demographic pattern and geographical importance of the student community, the joint memorandum demanded for the introduction of new PG (Post-Graduate/Master Degree) subjects like - Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Santhali, Arabic, Mass Communication, Tourism and sociology under the Bodoland.
The BPF wings placed their demand to take initiative for the repeal of detrimental notification order in the same platform where the decision was taken after consideration for implementation and allow continuation of Assamese medium of instruction as usual in Under Graduate (UG) courses for the convenience of students community and overall benefit of the society.
Also Watch: