The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken a significant step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by urging its affiliated schools to consider Indian languages mentioned in Schedule 8 of the Constitution as a medium of instruction. The NEP 2020 aims to promote the use of mother tongue, regional, or Indian languages as the medium of instruction at least until Grade 5, preferably extending to Grade 8 and beyond, in order to foster multilingualism and preserve cultural heritage.
In a letter addressed to all affiliated schools, CBSE’s director of academics, Joseph Emmanuel, acknowledged the challenges in implementing multilingual education, particularly in terms of finding skilled teachers and developing high-quality multilingual textbooks. To address this, the Union Ministry of Education has taken significant steps, including directing the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to prepare new textbooks in 22 scheduled Indian languages. NCERT is prioritizing this task to ensure that these textbooks are available for students in the upcoming sessions.
Emmanuel emphasized that a seamless transition from Indian languages as the medium of instruction in school education to higher education is crucial. Therefore, CBSE-affiliated schools are encouraged to play a vital role in offering education through Indian languages. To facilitate the adoption of Indian languages, CBSE has suggested that schools explore available resources, seek guidance from experts in the field, and collaborate with other schools to share best practices. The initiative has been well-received by educators and school leaders.
Sudha Acharya, the chairperson of the National Progressive School Conference (NPSC), which represents over 120 Delhi schools, praised the move, stating that children are more comfortable in their mother tongue during their early years. NPSC member schools have already begun an initiative where students learn at least one Indian language from Class 1 onwards, with the aim of appreciating the diversity and beauty of different languages. Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School, expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing that using Indian languages as a medium of instruction fosters an inclusive learning environment and strengthens the connection to India’s rich cultural heritage. She highlighted the cognitive advantages this approach offers to students.
However, Tania Joshi, principal of The Indian School in Delhi, called for careful implementation, recognizing the need to train teachers proficiently in different Indian languages to ensure effective teaching. By embracing Indian languages as an optional medium of instruction from pre-primary to Class 12, CBSE is taking a bold step towards promoting linguistic diversity and realizing the vision of NEP 2020. The move not only preserves the country’s linguistic heritage but also equips students with cognitive benefits while encouraging a deeper understanding of their roots.