Context: The Union Cabinet recently approved the new National Education Policy 2020 to bring “large-scale transformational reforms” in both school and higher education. The new education policy for the country comes after almost 34 years. It stipulates for a complete overhaul of the existing education system. Among the key highlights of NEP 2020 is the decision to make home language, mother tongue or regional language as the medium of instruction up to class 5. Experts believe this may create a long-term impact in nation building. Imparting school education in mother tongue or regional language may bring drastic change in the ongoing process of human resource development. Analysts believe regional languages help inculcate human values and emotions and learning mother tongue will also help future generations forge a relation with their own social and cultural fabric. 
Key Points

• The new policy seeks rectification of poor literacy and numeracy outcomes associated with primary schools, reduction in dropout levels in middle and secondary schools and adoption of the multi-disciplinary approach in the higher education system.
• .Apart from this, the policy also focuses on early childhood care, restructuring curriculum and pedagogy; reforming assessments and exams, and investing in teacher training and broad-basing their appraisal.
• Among the key highlights of NEP 2020 is the decision to make home language, mother tongue or regional language as the medium of instruction up to class 5. 
• This may create a long-term impact in nation building. Imparting school education in mother tongue or regional language may bring drastic change in the ongoing process of human resource development. 
• Learning their local language will help children who experience a sudden disconnect with their mother tongue when they enter school. 
• Not learning enough about mother tongue begins the process of detachment from their own society. Regional languages help inculcate human values and emotions.

About Language formula

• The new Education Policy provides for greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State 
• The three languages learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and of course the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India 
• Sanskrit will be offered as an option at all levels of school and higher education 
• Other classical languages will also be available, possibly as online modules, while foreign languages will be offered at the secondary level.

Historical Perspective of 3 language formula

• The three-language formula for language learning was formulated in 1968 by the Ministry of Education of the Government of India in consultation with the states. 
• The formula as enunciated in the 1968 National Policy Resolution which provided for the study of "Hindi, English and modern Indian language (preferably one of the southern languages) in the Hindi speaking states and Hindi, English and the Regional language in the non-Hindi speaking States".
• The formula was formulated in response to demands from non-Hindi speaking states of the South, such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and mainly Tamil Nadu. Currently, the three language system is not followed in Tamil Nadu due to efforts of former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai.

Benefits of 3 language formula

• Young children learn and grasp non-trivial concepts more quickly in their home language/mother tongue. Wherever possible, the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond, will be the home language/mother tongue/local language/regional language.
• However, there will be a greater flexibility in the three- language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State. The three languages learned by children will be the choices of states, regions, and of course the students themselves, so long as at least two of them are native to India.
• Nowhere the policy talks about shedding the English language instead it emphasizes on the importance of multilingualism which has great cognitive benefit for young children.

Issues pertaining to implementation of 3 language formula

• “Teaching in the mother tongue is not a great idea. With globalisation expanding its roots everywhere, our students in the future won’t be representing a community or state but could be working anywhere in the world representing India.
• Research shows having the mother tongue as the medium of instruction lets younger children understand academic matter in the early years of education better. 
• But, the NEP making mother tongue/regional language the mandatory medium of instruction till Grade 5—even beyond if this can be done—ignores several realities. 
• With inter-state migration for employment both in the informal and formal sectors, and India’s large diversity of languages, regional language will hobble some students’ learning. 
• English is now the lingua franca of employment in a globalised, connected world—with nearly 800 million of the global population speaking the language as a first or second language. 
• Students from vernacular-medium schooling have found it difficult to cope with higher education with the medium of instruction being English—indeed, this is a reason cited by IIT authorities to explain the high drop-out numbers at the country’s premier engineering education institutes. 
• Critics of English as the language of instruction frequently point to the rise of Japan and China despite these countries having focussed on their native languages, but the fact is that India’s service-sector-led growth, especially in IT & ITeS, has been on the back of its English competence.

Road Ahead

• A New Education Policy aims to facilitate an inclusive, participatory and holistic approach, which takes into consideration field experiences, empirical research, stakeholder feedback, as well as lessons learned from best practices.
• It is a progressive shift towards a more scientific approach to education. The prescribed structure will help to cater the ability of the child – stages of cognitive development as well as social and physical awareness. If implemented in its true vision, the new structure can bring India at par with the leading countries of the world.
• A person who stays connected with his mother tongue may also realise the importance of local products. In fact, the basic constituent of making of atmanirbhar Bharat lies in being fully aware and appreciating indigenous culture and society that can be attained by re-forging relationships with our own language. NEP 2020, if realised well, will contribute towards making India self-reliant.