During a week-long event celebrating ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav’, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the vital role of mother tongue education for children. He pointed out that learning in one’s native language is essential for developing creativity and critical thinking skills. His statements, delivered at the festival, stressed that understanding and engaging with the material in a familiar language can enhance cognitive abilities and emotional intelligence.
In his speech, Minister Pradhan reiterated the government’s dedication to promoting pride in India’s diverse languages, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of honoring linguistic diversity. He emphasized that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to transform the educational landscape by integrating India’s rich linguistic heritage into academic excellence.
Pradhan remarked, “The mother tongue is at the heart of profound learning; our languages are not just communication tools—they carry the history and traditions of our people.” He explained that students flourish when taught in their native languages, facilitating better knowledge retention and emotional growth. When children learn in their mother tongue, they find it easier to grasp complex ideas, aiding their academic performance.
Statistics support the importance of mother tongue education. According to the National Statistical Organisation, over half of students complete their secondary education in one of India’s 12 official languages, such as Assamese, Bengali, and Gujarati. Even though many students from regions with languages like Malayalam and Telugu often switch to English by Class X, vernacular education remains strong at the primary level.
Many states are taking initiative to promote regional language education, particularly in West Bengal, Karnataka, and Odisha. In West Bengal, around 90% of students study in Bengali, demonstrating the benefits of mother tongue instruction. Karnataka also reports over 53% of students learning in Kannada, while Assam shows a remarkable 91.1% of Assamese-speaking students studying in their native language at the primary level.
However, challenges persist when it comes to higher education in regional languages, especially in technical fields like engineering. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has indicated that there is a slow uptake in engineering programs offered in regional languages. For instance, in the 2021-22 academic year, only 233 out of 1,140 seats for BTech courses in regional languages were filled, showing that many students remain hesitant to pursue these options.
Concerns about job prospects also loom large. Many students fear that studying engineering in their mother tongue could hinder their employment opportunities due to the dominance of English in technical literature. Additionally, a lack of quality learning materials in regional languages hampers students’ ability to fully engage with their studies.
Despite these challenges, research indicates that teaching children in their mother tongue can lead to notable academic improvements. A study found that students taught in their native language score significantly higher in reading and math compared to those learning in a second language. This learning approach not only eases cognitive load but also fosters quicker grasping of new concepts.
Moreover, this method of education helps strengthen communication skills and fosters a connection with cultural identities. Children educated in their mother tongues tend to have a stronger sense of belonging and engage more confidently in their education, benefiting both socially and emotionally.
As India strives to overcome the remaining hurdles in higher education vernaculars, experts suggest that investments in resources, quality materials, and teacher training in regional languages are essential. Countries like Switzerland and South Korea offer valuable insights into the benefits of multilingual education, showcasing how embracing linguistic diversity can enhance innovation and educational achievement on both individual and national levels.
