Mangaluru: The Karnataka Tulu Sahithya Academy and Department of Public Instruction are making earnest efforts to increase the number of schools offering Tulu as an optional subject to 50, in Dakshina Kannada during 2018-19.
Tulu was introduced as a third optional language for Class 6 in 2010-11 and Class 7 in 2011-12; for Class 8 in 2012-13 and Class 9 in 2013-14. The first batch of students wrote Tulu language as a third optional language paper in the SSLC examination in 2014-15.
Initially, there were not many takers for Tulu as an optional subject in the district. With the efforts of the academy, the number of schools opting for Tulu as an optional subject has increased over time.
A total of 313 students had written SSLC exams during 2016-17. The first batch of SSLC had only 18 students of Pompei High School, Mangaluru, writing Tulu as an optional subject. Udupi DDPI too has convened a meeting of the head teachers, which will be attended by the academy representatives as well. The academy will start rigorous campaigns to convince schools to opt for Tulu as a third language after schools reopen, he explained.
The academy pays an honorarium to teachers who teach Tulu in the schools.
