Why in News?

The Namath Basai programme, introduced recently, received overwhelming response in Attappady, Kerala.

About Namath Basai

• Namath Basai is the Kerala State government’s unique programme of teaching tribal children in their mother tongue.
• The programme, implemented by the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), has succeeded in retaining hundreds of tribal children in their online classes by making them feel at home with the language of instruction.
• The SSK has distributed some 50 laptops exclusively for Namath Basai. 
• Pre-recorded classes are offered through a YouTube channel.
• The project got its name in Irula language. Namath Basai in Irula means ‘our language’.

Tribals who benefited

• Classes are being offered in three tribal languages in Attappady.
• While the Irula language has the largest number of takers, the Muduka and Kurumba language do not have as many.
• Out of the 192 hamlets in Attappady, 149 belong to the Irula tribe, 24 to the Muduka tribe and 19 to the Kurumba tribe. 
• Namath Basai is being introduced in the tribal belts of Wayanad and Idukki as well. 
• Classes are offered in the Oorali, Mutuvan and Paniya languages in Idukki.

Benefits of the scheme

• Teaching in the tribal language has to a good extent stopped students from dropping out, which is quite usual in tribal hamlets.
• This scheme will go a long way in preserving the ethnic culture and language of the tribespeople. 
• The learning experience is made more down to earth and less formal.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/namath-basai-brings-tribal-children-back-to-school/article32403908.ece