The programme to teach mother tongue to students of minority communities is being hampered since teachers do not have adequate training.

Reportedly, the teachers are not fully trained to impart lessons on Bangla alphabet which is hampering education of students.

After the hill tracts agreement was signed on Dec 2, 1997, the hill tracts law underlined the provision for primary education in Bangla. At the same time, alphabets of other Chakma, Marma and Tripura languages were also fixed.

Based on long-term demand, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) included languages of the minority communities in 2017.

Parents of the schools in the hill districts say that though textbooks were supplied, many are not familiar with the new curriculum.

Headmistress of Khagrapur Government Primary School, Asha Tripura said, “The government supplied textbooks have not had the impact since teachers have not been given the required training.”

Mother tongue language panel member of NCTB, Mathura Bikash Tripura, said, “The mother tongue was included in the textbooks to preserve the language, culture and ethos of minority sections.”

However, due to absence of enough skilled teachers, the plan has floundered, added Mathura.

Assistant teacher of Khagrachari Collegiate School, Arja Chakma, says, “Language is being taught in a few schools but the result is not encouraging.”

The teaching of mother tongue has to be ensured through a proper system, added Arja.

However, Khagrachari zilla primary education official, Fatema Meher Yasmin, said, “To ensure proper imparting of lessons on mother tongue, a training panel has been formed.”

Training will begin once assistance comes from primary and mass education department, she added.