States across India are accelerating plans to implement foundational education in mother – tongue under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initiative aims to make early learning more inclusive and effective by teaching young children in the language they understand best.
Key Points
- The move promotes literacy, comprehension, and cultural connection in the early grades (Classes 1–3).
- States are developing regional-language textbooks and training teachers for multilingual classrooms.
- NEP 2020 emphasizes that the home or local language should be the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5.
Relevance for Assam & North-East
- In linguistically diverse regions like Assam, using local and regional languages can enhance learning outcomes and reduce dropout rates.
- It aligns with efforts to create bilingual and multilingual learning materials, supporting both educational equity and cultural preservation.
Conclusion
Mother-tongue based education is gaining national momentum, and for the North-East, it represents a vital step toward inclusive, bilingual, and contextually rich learning for young learners.
FAQs
1. What is mother-tongue based foundational education?
Ans: It’s an approach under NEP 2020 where children in early grades (up to Grade 5) are taught in their home or regional language to improve understanding and learning outcomes.
2. Why is this important?
Ans: Children learn best in a language they understand. Teaching in the mother tongue boosts comprehension, retention, and participation, especially in multilingual areas.
3. How are states implementing it?
Ans: States are developing local-language textbooks, training teachers, and creating multilingual learning materials for foundational education.
4. How does it help Assam and the North-East?
Ans: With multiple local languages spoken in the region, using Assamese and regional dialects ensures inclusive education and better learning outcomes.
5. How does this align with NEP 2020?
Ans: NEP 2020 recommends that the medium of instruction till Grade 5 be the mother tongue or local language, while promoting multilingualism throughout schooling.
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