In a move to promote multilingual education in India, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has allowed schools to consider Indian languages as the medium of instruction. To keep the education system in line with the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), the board made the decision.
NEP 2020 emphasizes the significant cognitive advantages of multilingualism for young learners, particularly when they are exposed to multiple languages from the foundational stage, with a specific focus on their native language.
CBSE has issued a notice regarding the same. It reads, "The implementation of multilingual education and the utilization of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction present several challenges including the availability of skilled teachers capable of teaching in multilingual settings, the creation of high-quality multilingual textbooks, and the limited time available, especially in two-shift government schools, as multilingual education demands additional instructional time allocation."
NCERT PREPARING NEW TEXTBOOKS
The Ministry of Education has directed NCERT to prepare new textbooks in the 22 scheduled Indian Languages. The NCERT has taken the task to the highest priority so that textbooks in 22 scheduled languages can be made available to all students from the upcoming sessions.
Higher education has also started the preparation to produce textbooks in Indian languages and initiate the learning-teaching process through these languages in addition to English. Further, it will also decide to examine Indian languages.
Similarly, the textbooks for students studying technical, medical, vocational skills, law, etc, will also be prepared in Indian languages.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
CBSE took to its official Twitter handle and tweeted, " #3yearsofNEP #NEP2020emphasizes the importance and cognitive benefits of multilingualism for young students. Use of Indian languages as an alternative medium of instructions from primary classes to class 12 has been reiterated in this important circular of CBSE."
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