PALASH Multilingual Education Program of Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state full of tribal communities and therefore has a rich palette of languages. The state government is implementing the National Curriculum Framework and has launched the PALASH Multilingual Education Program which aims at enhancing learning outcomes in all subjects by integrating children's first languages in primary education. Good to note that they are consulting with Language Learning Foundation, UNICEF and other agencies. It will be interesting to watch where it will land in the spectrum between the "pedagogically ideal" and the "political feasible" when it comes to implementation.
The PALASH Multilingual Education Program launched by Jharkhand aims to improve access to education for tribal children by integrating mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE). Tribal children often face educational challenges due to the gap between their home language and Hindi, the medium of instruction in most schools. The PALASH program addresses this by offering instruction in five major tribal languages: Santhali, Mundari, Ho, Kurukh, and Kharia. Initially piloted in 259 schools, it now covers over 1,041 schools across six districts.(The Pioneer)
The program focuses on building foundational literacy and cognitive skills in the mother tongue while gradually transitioning students to Hindi and English. Teachers are trained in multilingual pedagogies, and bilingual textbooks and resources have been developed to support this transition. The inclusion of culturally relevant content further strengthens the connection between home and school environments, enhancing learning outcomes.
However, challenges persist, particularly in the recruitment of teachers proficient in tribal languages. The program has responded with extensive teacher training initiatives to address this gap. Additionally, producing quality educational materials in tribal languages is an ongoing process, given the largely oral tradition of these languages. Despite these hurdles, the PALASH program represents a significant step in preserving Jharkhand’s linguistic diversity while promoting educational equity.
Recently, as reported by Dr. Dhir Jhingran (Language Learning Foundation - LLF) on his LinkedIn, strategic meetings were held with the Secretary of Education, the State Project Director, JEPC, and UNICEF's CFO and Education Specialist about the PALASH Multilingual Education Program. He writes, 'This collaborative effort is a critical step toward creating a strong foundation for improving student learning in Jharkhand.
Moving forward, Jharkhand aims to expand the program to cover more languages and districts, with the potential for incorporating digital resources to reach remote areas. The PALASH Multilingual Education Program is a significant initiative by the Jharkhand government aimed at improving educational outcomes for tribal children by using their native languages in the early years of schooling. It addresses the linguistic challenges faced by these children, fostering better comprehension and retention by incorporating their mother tongues in the learning process.
Regards,
Karsten, in collaboration with Upasana Lepcha
Resources:
Multilingual teaching program expands to 1041 schools in State
JEPC holds three-day conference on ‘Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education’ – Lagatar24.com
Photo source: Language Learning Foundation, Dr. Dhir Jhingran, Linkedin