Panaji: ‘Konkani Knowledge Certificate’ is now an essential qualification for many jobs in the state, but Konkani speakers may not have any avenue to obtain such a certificate. Not everyone has had the opportunity to receive basic education through Konkani or to learn Konkani as a subject at various levels of education, even though Konkani is their mother tongue or they speak fluent Konkani.
Now, Goa Konkani Academi has made it possible for Konkani speakers to get such a certification of their Konkani knowledge by putting their knowledge to test.
Goa Konkani Akademi president Vasant Sawant said that the body has decided to issue a Konkani Knowledge Certificate from Jan 1.
“Goa govt and central govt have made knowledge of Konkani an essential requirement for various posts in the administration. Govt accepts the certification by the Goa Konkani Akademi in that regard. Keeping in view the needs of the candidates, we are conducting written and oral tests and if a person passes, the applicant will be awarded a Konkani Knowledge Certificate within a day,” said Sawant.
He said that a govt notification authorising the Goa Konkani Akademi will also be issued within the next few days.
As Goa Konkani Akademi will conduct the certification examination from Jan 1, as part of preparation, the curriculum has been designed with objectives for the exam, said Akademi’s research assistant Dattaraj Naik.
Knowledge will be tested based on all four language skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — for certification purposes.
“The applicant must apply in the format prescribed by the Akademi along with a valid 15 years residence certificate issued by the mamlatdar and educational certificates, photo identity card issued by a govt authority. Then the Akademi will verify the applicant’s skills through written and oral tests. A fee of Rs 200 will be charged for the process,” said Naik.
There will be no examination for those who have obtained passing marks in Konkani subject at Class X, XII, graduate or post graduate level. They will be given a knowledge certificate by just checking their marks. Others who do not have Konkani as a subject will have to take written and oral tests to obtain certificates, he said.
