Context

Recently, The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has instructed all its schools to make use of educational material which will focus on learning in one’s mother tongue and encourage multilingual education.

CBSE emphasizing on promoting Regional language in learning

In the Recent Circular of the CBSE in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2022, which emphasize teaching and learning in the child’s mother tongue, or regional and local language.

• National Council for Educational Research and Training and the Indian Institute of Languages have collaborated to produce a series of 52 entry-level primers tailored to various mother tongues and local languages spoken across India.
• The CBSE has said that these primers should be used to aid students in acquiring and mastering language skills early on, particularly if their mother tongue or local language is not the medium of instruction in schools. 

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52 Primers initiative

The 52 primers or short textbooks in Indian languages is going to be a transformational step for young learners, especially for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), providing them access to education in their mother tongue/local language. 

• Developed by: the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) in pursuance to National Education Policy, 2020.
• Features : 
  • It forms a basal reader for the local language,
  • It introduce numerals to the kids of Balvatikas and Anganwadis,
  • It gives impetus to adult literacy programmes.
  • It helps in pronunciation and comprehension of the letters of the alphabet and symbols of a language. 
  • It helps Children to become familiar with the meaning of one or more sets of letters made through their combinations in initial, medial and final positions in a word..
• Utility & Importance :
  • It will initiate an inspirational journey for young minds, paving the way for deeper understanding, lifelong learning, more familiarity and rootedness in indigenous culture and greater success in academics and beyond.
  • Due to challenges of multilingual teaching like availability of skilled teachers for teaching in local languages. 
    • These primers will help in teaching children from three to eight years of age in their local language at the foundational stage.
  • Bhutia, Bodo, Garo, Khandeshi, Kinnauri, Kuki, Manipuri, Nepali, Sherpa and Tulu are some of the languages the primers are available in.

Importance of Regional Language

Regional languages encapsulate traditions, folklore, and centuries-old wisdom, fostering a connection to cultural heritage. 

• To Nurture Young Minds through Linguistic Diversity : 
  • Impact on Cognitive Development :  Multilingualism enhances cognitive development, challenging the brain and stimulating problem-solving skills and creativity.
  • Holistic Intellectual Toolkit :  Language learning provides a holistic intellectual toolkit, extending beyond language proficiency to encompass cognitive flexibility. 
• To Foster a Sense of Belonging : Language fosters belonging by creating a shared space where students feel acknowledged and valued. 
• To Embrace Cultural Diversity in Education :  Emphasizing regional languages in education connects students with diverse cultures and preserves traditions. 
• Impact of New Education Policy 2020 :  The implementation of the New Education Policy 2020 in India promotes education in regional languages to preserve cultural heritage and enhance cognitive understanding.