Context: In this episode we’ll talk about the latest decision by the centre on giving thrust to mother tongue or to say regional language in technical education, especially engineering courses, from next academic year. A few IITs and NITs are being shortlisted for the same. The decision to teach in regional language was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank last month. In their decision announced, the ministry said that this move is in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which promotes regional language as a mode of delivering education.
Reason behind this decision

• A policy should be developed for introducing regional language education not just in schools but in technical educational institutes as well so that language doesn’t become a barrier.
• Human mind is more receptive to communication in the language in which it is accustomed to thinking from childhood.
• This requires teachers proficient in undertaking classes in the vernacular medium along with English, textbooks and reference materials in regional languages, besides technological assistance such as audio translation aids like those used in Indian Parliament.
• “Regional language hubs set up at technical institutes can bring together students requiring language aids,.
• These hubs can be structured depending upon the composition of students from various vernacular backgrounds or those facing a challenge in English communication, and the availability of teachers with regional language proficiency.

NEP 2020 on Three Language Formula

• Medium of Instruction: 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. 
• The three-language formula will continue to be implemented while keeping in mind the need to promote multilingualism as well as promote national unity. 
• NEP also stated that 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 the three languages are native to India. 

Old idea but little implementation

• The idea of using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in primary school is not new to the Indian education system.
• Article 350A of the Constitution states that every state and local authority should endeavour to provide “adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups”.
• The report of the Kothari Commission on education and national development (1964-66) suggested that in tribal areas, for the first two years of school, the medium of instruction and books should be in the local tribal language. The regional language should be taught separately and should become the medium of instruction by the third year.
• The Right to Education Act, 2009, also said that as far as possible, the medium of instruction in school should be the child’s mother tongue.

Challenges

• India has several languages, the 2011 census identified 270 mother tongues and classrooms might have children with more than one spoken language.
• It might not be possible for all languages to become the medium of instruction and it might not be possible for large parts of the country to implement this.
• The NEP makes no mention of how this change in the medium of instruction is to be funded.
• The initial investment in bilingual programmes can be high because of the additional cost of developing new learning material especially for languages that have not been standardised or do not have a script. It would also require teachers trained to teach in a multilingual classroom and new teachers fluent in these languages.
• Since education is a concurrent subject most states have their own school boards. Therefore, state governments would have to be brought on board for actual implementation of this decision.