CBSE allows Indian languages as medium of instruction
CBSE Update: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has urged its schools to consider including Indian languages as an optional medium of instruction, in order to realize a multilingual education system. Schools affiliated with CBSE now have the option of providing education in regional languages from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Before this change, CBSE schools were restricted to teaching in English or Hindi, while public schools had the freedom to teach in English, Hindi or the state language. This new development is in line with the government’s implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), which emphasizes multilingualism and promotes a more inclusive and diverse approach to education.
Tweet from the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education tweeted: “I appreciate CBSE for encouraging affiliated schools to use Indian (mother tongue) as the medium of instruction and to adapt multilingual education, in line with the vision of the National Education Policy 2020.” Check out the tweets below:
Appreciate CBSE for encouraging affiliated schools to use Indian (mother tongue) as a medium of instruction and supporting multilingual education, in line with the vision of the National Education Policy, 2020. This provides a significant cognitive advantage to young people… pic.twitter.com/Tq25frLj0d
– Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia)
July 21, 2023
Introducing multilingual education in the framework of NEP 2020
Explaining how the Ministry of Education, National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT) and higher education have implemented measures to introduce multilingual education in line with National Education Policy 2020, CBSE said: “According to the above initiatives taken to facilitate education in the Indian language, schools affiliated to CBSE may consider using the language-based stage of the Constitution to India as the end of the Annex 8 stage, as per the above initiatives taken to facilitate education in the Indian language. middle school, i.e. kindergarten through grade XII as an optional vehicle, with other options available.” Check out the CBSE tweet below:
#3 year NEP #NEP2020 emphasizes the importance and cognitive benefits of multilingualism for young learners. The use of Indian languages as an alternative medium of instruction from primary to 12th grade has been reiterated in this important CBSE circular. pic.twitter.com/RZrmrPPMqa
– CBSE headquarters (@cbseindia29)
July 21, 2023
NCERT Multilingual Textbook
At the direction of the Ministry of Education, the National Council for Research in Education and Training (NCERT) is ready to produce textbooks in 22 Indian languages. The aim is to promote teaching and learning in Indian alongside the existing English in CBSE schools. This initiative seeks to improve access to education and encourage multilingualism in the Indian education system, in line with the broader education policy goals of the government.
Challenges brought by the implementation of multilingual education
CBSE actively promotes multilingual education and uses mother tongue as the medium of instruction. While these initiatives have some advantages in improving student understanding and learning outcomes, they also come with their own set of challenges. Some of the challenges posed by the implementation of multilingual education and the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction are:
- Availability of qualified teachers: One of the significant challenges is the availability of teachers with skills in teaching multilingual subjects. It requires educators not only to be fluent in different languages, but also to be able to effectively communicate complex concepts in those languages. Finding and training such teachers can take a lot of time and resources.
- High-quality multilingual textbooks: Developing high-quality textbooks that meet the diverse language needs of students can be challenging. Without the right textbooks, the effectiveness of multilingual education can be compromised.
- Time constraints in two-shift schools: Many public schools in India operate in two shifts due to limited infrastructure. This means that the time spent on teaching and learning in each shift is reduced, affecting the total teaching time.
- Standardization of Curriculum: Different regions and states in India may have different languages and dialects. Providing a standardized curriculum that can adapt to different language contexts can be complex. Balancing the need for local relevance while maintaining a common curriculum framework is challenging.
- Parental and Society Attitudes: Some parents and members of society may be apprehensive about the emphasis on multilingual education. They may believe that prioritizing a mother tongue could prevent their children from mastering a global lingua franca such as English, which is often seen as essential for better job prospects.
- Assessment and Evaluation: Designing equitable and effective assessment methods for multilingual education can be challenging. Traditional assessment systems may not fully capture the skills and understanding of students when learning in their mother tongue.
Despite these challenges, implementing multilingual education and using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction can lead to better learning outcomes, improved retention rates, and an improved overall educational experience for students. Addressing these challenges requires a joint effort of educational institutions, policy makers, teachers and communities to create an inclusive and effective multilingual learning environment.
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Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education