Mangaluru: Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy has decided to adopt a two-pronged approach to prompt schools to teach Tulu as the third optional language in 200 schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi from the academic year 2018-19. Now, Tulu is being taught in 35 schools from Class VI to Class X with 1,647 students.

A meeting presided over by A.C. Bhandary, president of the academy, here on Saturday decided that a sub-committee of the academy should approach the potential schools and motivate the principals to introduce Tulu. The members of the committee should convince the principals to encourage students to opt for Tulu.

In addition, the academy should call a meeting of school principals through the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and Block Education Officers (BEOs). The academy decided that school visits and meetings should begin from December and last till February.

The government has, through an order on March 26, 2010, allowed schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi to teach Tulu from Class VI. The first batch of 18 Class X students with Tulu as the third optional language passed out in 2015. It was followed by 25 students in 2016 and 283 students in 2017.

According to B. Chandrahasa Rai, registrar of the academy, all students who appeared for Tulu paper have passed out with 100 % results in the last three years. He said that 463 Class X students are expected to appear for the examination in March 2018. Representatives of some Tulu organisations also attended the Saturday’s meeting, he said.