India's Linguistic Landscape: A National Strength
India's linguistic diversity is unparalleled, with over 1,300 mother tongues and 121 constitutionally recognized languages as per the 2011 Census. This diversity is a national asset, crucial for children's learning and cultural understanding. Preserving languages is not just a cultural necessity but an educational imperative, as it represents humanity’s accumulated knowledge.
Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
MTB-MLE is essential for recognizing and valuing young people's languages and identities in education. UNESCO promotes multilingual teaching as a prerequisite for quality education, and its seventh edition report, "Bhasha Matters," addresses Mother Tongue and Multilingual Education in India.
- The report recommends 10 policies to make India's education system more inclusive by leveraging linguistic diversity.
- Globally, over a quarter billion learners lack access to education in a language they understand. In India, 44% of children face this challenge, according to NCERT 2022.
Steps Toward Addressing Linguistic Challenges
India has implemented several initiatives to integrate mother-tongue instruction:
- The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes home languages in early education.
- Odisha's multilingual program supports 90,000 children in 21 tribal languages.
- Telangana uses DIKSHA for multilingual digital resources.
National Initiatives and Technological Innovations
- PM eVIDYA, Adi Vaani, BHASHINI, and AI4Bharat leverage digital platforms and AI for language preservation and education.
Bhasha Matters Report Recommendations
The report outlines strategies for systemic reform:
- State-level language policies based on MTB-MLE.
- Enhanced teacher recruitment and multilingual classroom standards.
- Pre-service and in-service training reforms to incorporate multilingual teaching.
- High-quality multilingual materials and assessments.
- Community involvement and indigenous knowledge integration.
- Gender-responsive approaches and sustained investment in language technologies.
Conclusion
India's linguistic diversity is a powerful force for equity, identity, and social cohesion. With appropriate policy frameworks and state-led initiatives, India stands poised for transformative educational change that acknowledges the importance of teaching in languages understood by children, enhancing learning outcomes and affirming identities.
On International Mother Language Day, the importance of valuing each learner’s language is emphasized, transforming multilingual education from a policy ambition to a national movement led by the youth.
