Kathmandu, January 19:

Lack of text books and reference materials in schools has hindered implementation of the government’s policy to impart primary level education in mother tongue.

“To develop local languages, they should be used as the medium of teaching in the schools rather than as an optional subject,” said Amrit Yonjan, a Tamang language expert, speaking at an interaction organised by Education Journalists’ Group (EJG), today.

“Lack of reading materials in local languages is a major problem for extensive use of the languages in school education,” he said.

“Gurung students are not provided with the books in Gurung language so the students are deprived of being educated in their mother tongue,” said Robin Gurung, an expert on Gurung language.

He said only students in Rupandehi are being taught in Gurung language in the primary level.

Jaya Lamsal, officer at Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) said, “The sixth amendment of the Education Act has made the provision to teach local language as optional subjects making teaching of local language is possible in the schools.”

He also informed that the government has given the right to translate the text books in local languages with the changes in the names, places and many other things wherever needed.

He said decentralisation of production and distribution and authorising private sector to publish text books and other reading materials prepared and prescribed by the Curriculum Development Centre will help development of local languages.