Multilingual Education and India

When talking about using local languages in the classroom, we usually think of the 3 Rs: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetics, But Dr Vishal Sharma builds a strong case for also teaching Science and Technology in the language the child is most familiar with. This will change the learning from reproducing scientific facts to creative thinking and production based on deep understanding. The article, Learning Science and Technology in Mother Tongue, published in the Daily Excelsior, explains how teaching complex subjects like science and technology in a child's first language improves cognitive development, critical thinking, and cultural rootedness. The article uses global examples, insights from cognitive science, and Indian policy initiatives to make a compelling case for the use of the children's native language. The piece emphasises that learning Science and Technology in one's mother tongue strengthens conceptual understanding and reduces cognitive overload. Studies by exper...

Odisha is often ahead of the game in comparison with other states when it comes to Multilingual Education. That is no surprise, given the heavy investment in that state by people like Prof D. P. Pattanayak, Prof Ajit Mohanty, and Dr Mahendra Mishra! It is good to note that, in the latest initiative, attention is given not only  to the language , but also to the relevance of the content for the children. The New Indian Express reports that tribal children in Odisha will be taught their indigenous knowledge systems such as their indigenous rituals, cropping methods, and much more along with their mother tongue. The multilingual approach will include their indigenous language along with the state language, Odia. These two initiatives come from the  Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe  Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare department under the guidance of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 .  P. Patel from the  Academy of Tribal Langu...