Ilam, Aug 8: The Mangsebung rural municipality in Ilam district has made Limbu and Bantawa languages mandatory in 11 community schools.
The rural municipality has introduced Bantawa language in three schools where there is a majority of Rai students and Limbu language in other three schools with a majority of students from Limbu community as compulsory subject from this academic session.
Earlier, four schools had been teaching Limbu language and Bantawa language by a school as local curriculum.
Chief of Education Section of the rural municipality, Buddhi Prasad Khatiwada, said Saraswoti Basic School, Mansebung-2, Janata Basic School, Mangsebung-4 and Singheshwori Basic School, Mansebung-6, have introduced Bantawa language as well as Chisopani Secondary School located at Mangsebung-6 has started teaching Bantawa language as a local curriculum from this academic session.
Similarly, Gajurmukhi Basic School and Mandika Basic School located at Mangsebung-1 and Durga Secondary School, Mangsebung-3, have started teaching Limbu language from this year.
Chairperson of the rural municipality, Hemant Rai, said they have given priority to mother tongue education as the Constitution has given rights to every community to run school and educational institution at their own mother language.
Other schools, who have not introduced mother language education, have been teaching ‘Hamro Mangsebung’. The rural municipality has implemented Limbu language as an official language across the rural municipality from May 26 this year.
