Empowering Language Educators: A Weeklong Workshop on Tribal Language Teaching in Sikkim
SUMMARY OF THE WORKSHOP
A National Workshop for Tribal Language Teachers was organised by the Tribal Research Institute, Social Welfare Department, with the support of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India in collaboration with State Institute of Capacity Building (SICB), Skill Development and Education Department, Govt. Of Sikkim at the conference hall, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College (NBBDC), Gangtok.
The workshop commenced with the offering of a scarf and bouquet to the Chief Guest, Shri Sanjit Kharel, Minister of Social Welfare Department, Women & Child Development Department and Buildings & Housing Department, and other dignitaries followed by the lighting of the Ceremonial Lamp. Likewise, memento was also presented to the Chief Guest and resource persons.
Shri Sanjit Kharel was accompanied by Dr. I.B.S. Yadav, Joint Director, Skill Development Department, Shri Chuksung Lepcha, Additional Director, Education Department, Shri Tshewang Gyachho, SCS, Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Shri Ganesh Kumar Subba, Research Officer TRI/SWD, Shri Sonam Ongchen Bhutia, Nodal Officer, AD/TRI, Resource Persons, and Language Teachers from six districts and officials from concerned line departments.
In his inaugural address, Shri Chuksung Lepcha briefed about Tribal Languages in Sikkim. He stressed on the vision to actively work towards contributing to a future where Indigenous languages are spoken in homes and schools. Additionally, the venue for workshop classes were also decided: Bhutia Bhawan for Bhutia & Sherpa, Skill Development Department premises for Lepcha & Tamang, and Limboo Bhawan for Limboo
Shri Tshewang Gyachho, in his keynote address, spoke extensively about conducting the National Workshop for Tribal Language Teachers and said that working together will always provide the right guidance to the students in the long run.
Furthermore, he said that the five-day long (19th -23rd Sept) training programme would be an enriching and fruitful experience. The highlight of this workshop was to improve reading and writing skills of the students and to train the newly appointed teachers with new methodologies in teaching of regional language, he added.
Chief Guest, Shri Sanjit Kharel, extended words of gratitude and encouraged teachers to make use of the training in preserving Tribal Languages and help students foster skills to comprehend their Indigenous languages.Earlier in the day, Technical Session was chaired by Professor Rosy Chamling, Head of the Department – English, Sikkim University, with interactive sessions along with Professor P. C. Pattanaik, Senior Professor and Former Head of the Department- Indian Modern Language & Literary Studies, Delhi University. The inaugural session concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Shri Suman Gurung, SCS, Special Secretary, and TAD Social Welfare Department.
REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP
A Brief Report on weeklong National Workshop for Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Tamang and Sherpa tribal language teachers on teaching and learning of tribal languages in Sikkim under the Scheme Support to Tribal Research Institutes for the Year 2019-20.
TITLE OF THE WORKSHOP
National Workshop for Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Tamang and Sherpa tribal language teachers on teaching and learning of tribal languages in Sikkim.
ORGANISED BY
Tribal Research Institute, Social Welfare Department, Government of Sikkim with the support of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India. In collaboration with State Institute of Capacity Building, Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim and Education Department, Government of Sikkim.
OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP
- To provide teaching training to teachers who have been involved in teaching tribal languages in schools at primary levels. Pedagogy and teaching skills. How to prepare tribal language teaching learning materials in a scientific way.
- To make them aware about the future of tribal languages in context of National Education Policy, 2020.
- To create awareness on preservation and promotion of tribal languages for sustainable development.
PARTICIPANTS
The workshop involved primary level Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Tamang and Sherpa tribal language teachers of Government schools under Education Department, Government of Sikkim. The community wise strength of the teachers and its resource persons who attended the workshop are as under:
| Sl.No. | Community | Number of Teachers | Designation | Number of Resource persons (internal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhutia | 80 | Primary Language Teacher | 04 |
| 2 | Lepcha | 80 | Primary Language Teacher | 04 |
| 3 | Limboo | 80 | Primary Language Teacher | 05 |
| 4 | Tamang | 20 | Primary Language Teacher | 04 |
| 5 | Sherpa | 15 | Primary Language Teacher | 04 |
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL RESOURCE PERSONS
Total 26 Resource Persons, 2 external (1. Delhi University & 1. Sikkim Central University) and 24 resource persons from Bhutia, Lepcha, Limboo, Tamang and Sherpa language including Resource persons from Education Department and Skill Development Department.
| Sl .No. | Name of resource person | Designation | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prof. P.C. Pattanaik | Senior Professor | Delhi University |
| 2 | Prof. Rosy Chamling | Professor | Sikkim University |
| 3 | Shri Sonam Lepcha | Director | Education Department |
| 4 | Dr. Santi Ram Adhikari | Joint Director | SCERT |
| 5 | Dr I.B.S. Yadav | Joint Director | Skill Development Department |
| 6 | Shri Yeshe Rinzing Bhutia | TBO (Bhutia) | Education Department |
| 7 | Shri Gompu Dorjee Bhutia | PGT (Bhutia) | Modern SSS |
| 8 | Shri Bhaichung Bhutia | ATBO (Bhutia) | Education Department |
| 9 | Shri Karma Lobsang Bhutia | GT (Bhutia) | West point SSS |
| 10 | Dr. Kachyo Lepcha | TBO (Lepcha) | Education Department |
| 11 | Shri Saldong Lepcha | ATBO (Lepcha) | Education Department |
| 12 | Shri Dupden Lepcha | PGT (Lepcha) | Modern SSS |
| 13 | Mrs. Phurmit Lepcha | Co-ordinator | Education Department |
| 14 | Ms. Kausila Subba | PGT (Limboo) | Assam Lingjey SSS |
| 15 | Ms. Sanjoti Subba | PGT (Limboo) | Shribadam SSS |
| 16 | Shri Prem Kumar Subba | GT (Limboo) | Darap SSS |
| 17 | Shri Santosh Subba | TBO (Limboo) | Education Department |
| 18 | Shri Bhim Hang Subba | ATBO (Limboo) | Education Department |
| 19 | Shri Rajen Tamang | ATBO (Tamang) | Education Department |
| 20 | Shri Karma Tshering Tamang | GT (Tamang) | Tokal Bermiok SSS |
| 21 | Shri Norbu Tamang | GT (Tamang) | Lower Syari SS |
| 22 | Shri Bhim Tamang | Co-ordinator | Education Department |
| 23 | Shri Ang Nima Sherpa | Resource Person | Upper Jaubari JHS |
| 24 | Shri Changchup D. Sherpa | Resource Person | |
| 25 | Shri Tarbu Sherpa | Resource Person | Bermiok Tokal |
| 26 | Ms. Nim Lhamu Sherpa | Coordinator (Sherpa) | Education |
THE VENUEU AND DATE OF THE WORKSHOP
| Venue for inaugural | Venue for language class | Venue for general class | Venue for valedictory | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Hall, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Degree College, Tadong.
Dated: September 19,2022 |
|
Conference Hall Govt. girls senior secondary school, Deorali.
Dated: September 22,2022 |
Conference Hall, Tourism Department.
Dated: September 23,2022 |
COMMON TOPICS OF THE WORKHSOP
- Teaching Methodology.
- Paedagogy.
- Grammar.
- Methods of development of teaching materials.
- Basics of National Education Policy, 2020.
- Learning Outcomes.
In Conclusion, a long pending National Workshop for tribal language teachers has been successfully concluded. The response of the trainees was overwhelming and expected that similar training in the future.
