SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Education, R.C. Laloo, has reiterated that the State Government has taken the decision to make MIL (Khasi language) as a ‘compulsory elective subject’ in the best interest of the student community.
“The demand to withdraw the notification of making Khasi (MIL) an elective subject is only a matter of sentiment. This decision by the Government is not discriminatory against the Khasi language,” Laloo said.
He also wanted to know whether sentiment was more important than the career of the student.
“The Government cannot compromise with the career of the students at any cost,” Laloo said.
Laloo’s statement comes a day after a committee comprising of KHADC MDCs, traditional heads and experts in Khasi language met MBOSE Executive Chairman E.P. Kharbhih and demanded scrapping of the notification issued by the Board to convert Khasi (MIL) into an elective subject.
Making it clear that the final decision will have to be taken by the Government, Kharbhih had asked the members of the committee to meet the Education Minister to discuss the matter.
Stating that the Government will not scrap the notification, Laloo claimed that the number of students who have opted for the Khasi language had increased after Khasi (MIL) was changed into an “elective subject’.
“Therefore, the decision to make MIL as an elective subject is not discriminatory against the Khasi language at all. In fact, after MIL has been made as elective subject, there is an increase in the number of registration and enrollment in the Khasi language,” Laloo further stated.
The Deputy Chief Minister went on to say that even when MIL was a compulsory subject, students had the option of choosing from eight languages besides Khasi – Alternative English, Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, Mizo, Urdu and Garo.
He also mentioned that MBOSE was only following the practice of other Boards, namely, CBSE, ICSE, State Education Boards of Jharkhand, Punjab & Mizoram etc., where MIL is included in the list of elective subjects.
“In fact the steps taken are progressive rather than being retroactive in nature by giving more flexibility to the students,” the Education Minister said.