In a latest move, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked schools, which are under the board, to consider using Indian languages as an optional medium of instruction to make multilingual education a reality.Now, schools and institutes affiliated with the CBSE have an option of teaching in regional languages from pre-primary to Class 12. Earlier, the CBSE schools could only teach either in English or in Hindi, unlike the state board schools that can also teach in the state language.This latest CBSE move is in line with the governments push for the National Education Policy (NEP).Heres CBSEs circular:#3yearsofNEP #NEP2020 emphasizes 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. pic.twitter.com/RZrmrPPMqa— CBSE HQ (@cbseindia29) July 21, 2023In the circular, the CBSE noted that the challenges posed by the implementation of multilingual education and the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction, which include the availability of skilled teachers capable of teaching multilingual subjects, the creation of high-quality multilingual textbooks and time limitation, especially in two-shift government schools.Taking it to Twitter, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated CBSE for this move. “This is a laudatory step towards encouraging education in mother tongue and Indian languages in schools,” he said.अपने सभी विद्यालयों में बालवाटिका से कक्षा 12वीं तक भारतीय भाषाओं में शिक्षा का विकल्प उपलब्ध कराने के लिए सीबीएसई को बधाई देता हूँ। NEP की परिकल्पना के अनुरूप यह विद्यालयों में भारतीय भाषा आधारित शिक्षा को बढ़ावा देगा। शिक्षा में बेहतर outcomes की दिशा में यह एक अच्छी शुरुआत… pic.twitter.com/dhivp0rHzs— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 21, 2023UGCs similar moveRecently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) came up with a similar circular for higher education.Speaking to the media, Chamu Krishna Shastry, head of the high-powered Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti for the promotion of Indian languages under the Education Ministry said, ” This is a historic decision and will open a world of opportunities for many children, besides Indianising teaching and learning systems in the country.”“With the UGC making professional education available in regional languages and now CBSE doing the same for school education, this is a historic move for progress in implementing the NEP,” he added.The National Education Policys key focus is to address the growing developmental needs of India and proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of education, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of India.
