The ongoing third Assembly session in Tripura saw a heated discussion on Monday regarding the Kokbarok script issue. Leader of the Opposition, Animesh Debbarma, raised concerns over the conflicting directives from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding the script in which candidates can write their Kokbarok answer sheets.
Debbarma highlighted that during the first Assembly session, he had urged Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Education Portfolio, to ensure that candidates are given the option to write Kokbarok answer scripts in both Bengali and Roman scripts. However, the CBSE continues to insist that only Bengali script will be allowed for writing answers in Kokbarok.
Expressing his concern, Debbarma pointed out that the CBSE exams, including the Kokbarok exam, are scheduled for February 15, and approximately 5000 candidates are expected to appear. The confusion surrounding the use of only the Bengali script is causing distress among the candidates.
In response to the issue, former Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath informed the House that the CBSE had communicated to the department that permission to use two scripts could not be granted, and only one script would be allowed.
However, countering Nath’s statement, Animesh Debbarma referred to a letter obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) request from the Directorate of Kokbarok and Other Minority Language (OML) to the CBSE authority in New Delhi. The letter suggested that the CBSE examination’s sample question papers and questions should be prepared in Bengali script, aligning with the policy decision of the government. Notably, the letter was signed by concerned officials, including the then Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath.
CPIM MLA Jitendra Choudhury expressed concern, stating that the government appears to be leading 5000 students into an uncertain future in a planned manner.
Despite the conflicting statements, Ratan Lal Nath reiterated that the CBSE had informed the government that only one script would be allowed for writing answer sheets. He expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved before the February 15 examination, offering reassurance to the concerned students and stakeholders. The Assembly session continues as lawmakers seek a resolution to this script predicament.
