The Meghalaya government has made it mandatory to include Khasi and Garo in the curriculum for children up to Class-1, with the aim to simplify learning and strengthen exposure to local culture, officials said on Saturday.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the move seeks to build cultural identity from the foundational years. “Children must grow with confidence and a sense of belonging. Learning our own languages early helps that,” Sangma, who chaired a cabinet meeting on Friday, told reporters.
Officials said the new textbooks will be introduced as an option in the upcoming academic year and will become compulsory from the following session, as many schools have already finalised their syllabi. The revised foundational-stage curriculum—from preschool to Class 1—will prioritise ease of learning, basic values and early exposure to the state’s history and traditions.