Kathmandu: The Mangsebung Rural Municipality in Ilam district is taking steps to implement the Bantawa Language Curriculum as part of its initiative to promote mother languages. This effort is being driven by the local government to ensure the preservation and teaching of the Bantawa language in areas where it is predominantly spoken.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the rural municipality has formed a taskforce to spearhead the development and implementation of this curriculum. This taskforce is building on the success of previously implemented local and Limbu language curricula in the schools of the region. Rural Municipality Chairman Hemanta Rai emphasized that the curriculum development is a result of extensive discussions and consultations with local stakeholders.
The taskforce, which has already begun its work, is composed of several educators and community members. It includes the Headmaster of Jiban Jyoti Secondary School, Madan Kumar Rai, along with teachers Udaya Rai, Sakuntala Rai, and Ambika Prasad Rai. Former teacher Gunja Kumar Rai and Education Officer Yubraj Khanal are also integral members of the team led by Headmaster Madan Kumar.
The initiative has been well-received by the local community, who view it as a fulfillment of their constitutionally enshrined rights. Krishna Kumar Rai, Central Assistant General Secretary of Kiran Rai Yoyokhha, expressed his organization’s support for the curriculum’s implementation, highlighting the positive reception from community groups.
Demographic data from the National Population and Housing Census 2021 reveals that the Limbu community constitutes 42.83% and the Rai community accounts for 33.6% of the population in Mangsebung Rural Municipality, underscoring the significance of promoting local languages in this culturally rich region.