Ethnic Chin dialects likely to be taught at schools soon

12 September 2013: Chin students may be officially allowed to learn their native dialects at state primary schools next month for the first time in decades.

The Chin Association for Christian Communication (CACC) said distribution and studying of the Chin texts will begin in October, according to the Chinland Post.

A source from CACC confirmed that textbooks prepared in Hakha of Lai dialect for Grade-I and Grade-II of primary schools have been finished.

So far, at least six Chin dialects including Kamhau in Tedim, Laizo in Falam, Lai in Hakha and Thantlang, Matu in Matupi, Cho in Kanpetlet and Mindat and Khumi in Paletwa townships have been approved by the government.

It is believed that classes in ethnic languages will be provided at schools after 3pm.

Since 1962, ethnic languages have not been officially recognized by Burma’s successive authorities.#