Plea for 'student-friendly' language in textbooks

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, FEB. 1. The language in textbooks should be student- friendly and the stress should be more on providing information, than testing the language skills, felt several speakers at a seminar-cum-workshop on "Preparation of Textbooks at Primary Level - Guidelines".

The seminar is being organised by the International Telugu Centre of the Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, wherein Telugu teachers from various States are participating. The four-day seminar would discuss various problems being confronted by the students in understanding the textbook language and evolve methods to make it more student-friendly.

Mr. I.V. Subba Rao, Secretary, Primary Education, asked the teachers not to lay emphasis on the language but the content while writing the textbooks. He pointed out that the teachers tend to get carried away to show their language skills forgetting whether the student would really understand the matter.

He wanted the teachers to be aware of Indian conditions, Telugu culture and human values while writing the lessons. All these aspects should reflect in the books apart from providing all the information. He stressed the need for more research in preparation of textbooks and felt this aspect should be given importance in the training of teachers.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. N. Gopi, preferred a style sheet to bring in uniformity in preparation of textbooks. He said students in other States and countries with Telugu as a language didn't have access to Telugu textbooks.

However, officials in States like Assam and West Bengal were getting the books from the State for their students. The seminar, he said, would also impart training to teachers for translating other books into Telugu for the convenience of students. About 14 Telugu teachers from seven different states are participating in the seminar.

Prof. Ketu Vishwanatha Reddy, an expert in preparation of textbooks, explained the difficulties in preparation of textbooks and the steps to be taken to overcome them. Prof. T. Gourishanker, In-charge Director, International Telugu Centre, said efforts were being made by the Centre to provide books to Telugu students in Mauritius, Malaysia and South Africa. Prof. N. Sivarama Murthy, Registrar of the University, also spoke.

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