In a significant development, the Odisha Government has approved a proposal allowing the nonresident Odias (NROs) to get certificate by clearing examination in Odia language.
With the approval of the proposal by the Department of School & Mass Education on Friday, learning mother tongue would become easier for the NROs.
On the request of the Odisha Society of The Americas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had directed the department to prepare a system for the NROs so that they can easily get education in their mother tongue.
Department Minister Debi Prasad Mishra had asked the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) to prepare an Odia curriculum and lower Odia Test for overseas students.
The BSE presented a proposal in this regard to the department. The proposal allows the Odias residing overseas to get a certificate, which is equivalent to Class-VII. The NROs can attend examination online after getting a six-month course of Odia.
The examination would carry a total of 70 marks (30 marks for short answer, 10 marks for translation from English to Odia, 20 marks for translation from Odia to English and 20 marks for essay).
The interested Odia candidates residing in other States would have to pay `1,500 for the examination while the fee has been fixed at USD 100 for the students living in foreign countries. The examination would be conducted by the BSE, which will provide certificate to the passed out students.