Mangaluru : For the first time in the history of SSLC examination, 18 students of Pompei High School Urwa, who had opted for Tulu as third language in 2012, will write SSLC examination this year in Tulu on April 10.

Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board has allotted the subject code, model question paper has been published and students have also got the hall tickets.

Everything was possibly because of the lone battle of the school staff, especially Head Master Frank Hilary D’Souza. With the special interest of head master, 18 students had opted for Tulu as third language, while three had opted Konkani and 48 for Hindi.

Karnataka Textbook Formulation Committee had provided 22 books as per the indent. The book formed by a committee headed by Ramakrishna High School Head Master Sridhar Rai, is about Tulu culture, warriors, customs, folk arts etc.

Though, the opening of Tulu in SSLC was grand with the support of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, it was not same later. The words of KSEEB members were discouraging and the process of getting works done was not easy at Bengaluru as the board had no Tuluvas, Frank Hilary D’Souza told Deccan Herald. The academy which spends money on other programmes could have spent a bit on these students, he added.

“Tulu teacher Dinesh R Shettigar has trained students well and we have conducted preparatory test. ‘Tulu chavadi’ of the school is conducting various activities and Gokarnanatheshwara College Kannada Professor Dinakara Pacchanadi is training students on Yakshagana. Our students would present Tulu Yakashagana by next year. We have asked help from the academy,” he said.

About the future of Tulu in SSLC, he said: “parents enthusiastic and introduction of Tulu in the school is a success, but there should be support from all corners to continue with it. However, this year again students can opt Tulu as third language in Class eight. We will send an indent for around 27 books.”

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy President M Janaki Brahmavara said Pompei High School Head Master has showed commitment in introducing Tulu in SSLC and he has followed the time table by appointing a teacher. He has also taken many risks. However, the school has got the subject code to conduct examination and the model question paper.

“The academy has limited role to play. We still don’t have a copy of Tulu text book for SSLC students and we have to ask them,” she said.