Three questions in another region’s dialect confuse Class 4 kids in exam

Raipur: A Class 4 Hindi exam paper in Surajpur has triggered confusion for kids, a controversy and a debate over NEP language norms after 7 marks' worth of questions were set from a different regional curriculum.The Hindi examination, conducted on March 30, reportedly included three questions carrying a total of 7 marks that were outside the prescribed curriculum. These questions were based on Chhattisgarhi language lessons meant for plain regions such as Bilaspur, Raipur, and Durg. However, Surajpur falls under the Surguja division, where a different curriculum based on the local Surgujia dialect is followed.The lapse sparked a debate within the education department over NEP norms on local language use. This significant ‘error' in the Class 4 Hindi annual examination paper has raised concerns over the paper-setting process and transparency in the state, according to a complaint lodged with the Surajpur DEO.The alleged goof up came to the fore when Surajpur district's Chattidand govt primary school headmaster Gautam Sharma wrote to the district education officer (DEO) seeking urgent clarification. Following the complaint, divisions have emerged within the education department over the interpretation of National Education Policy (NEP) provisions.In his letter, Sharma stated that the discrepancy caused confusion and mental stress among students during the examination, affecting their overall performance. He has sought instructions on how the 7 marks should be evaluated, suggesting either the award of grace marks to all affected students or the adoption of an alternative assessment method.Sharma claimed that the question papers were centrally distributed from Raipur. He added that other tribal-dominated districts—such as Dantewada, Kanker, and Bastar in Bastar division, and Jashpur in Surguja division—also received the same paper. "I spoke to some teachers in Dantewada and Bastar and found that they received Hindi question papers containing 7-mark questions in Chhattisgarhi instead of Halbi in Bastar and Gondi in Kanker and Dantewada. Similarly, Class 4 students in Jashpur should have been asked questions in the Kurukh dialect," Sharma told TOI.The letter further noted that such lapses contradict the NEP 2020. What Do Authorities Say?Surajpur DEO Ajay Mishra, when questioned, said he was unable to comment on the NEP provisions at present, citing his involvement in preparations for the Class 12 Hindi examination scheduled for April 10. He added that he would review the complaint after the examination.Surguja division joint director of the school education department, Sanjay Gupta, acknowledged provisions for education in local dialects in tribal regions but refrained from commenting on whether such provisions are mandatory under the NEP or applicable to question papers.On the other hand. the Bastar division joint director H.R. Som said that question papers are prepared at the local level and handled by the respective DEOs. He added that there is no explicit provision in the NEP mandating questions in local dialects.What Do Experts Say?Rameshwar Bhagat, 45, who has worked extensively on the Kurukh dialect and authored around 250 books under the Muskan Pustakalay Yojana, said the implementation of the NEP 2020 has faced a setback in Jashpur district after Class 4 students were also asked questions in Chhattisgarhi during a Kurukh language examination. Under NEP 2020, Kurukh was selected as the medium for multilingual education in Jashpur to preserve the tribal and cultural identity of the region. The Class 4 curriculum includes specific Kurukh lessons such as ‘Ee Med Kalo Ta Kalo Jiya Amban Kalan', ‘Nariyal Gahi Dam', and ‘Krusos Gahi Ladai', he said.The recent annual examination included three questions phrased in standard Chhattisgarhi. He noted that while Lariya, a dialect of Chhattisgarhi, is spoken in parts of Jashpur, standard Chhattisgarhi remains unfamiliar to many students. This linguistic barrier caused difficulty for students, he said.