Context:
The UNESCO State of Education Report for India 2025 titled “Bhasha Matters” highlights the importance of Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) to improve learning outcomes, educational equity, and cultural preservation in India.
Key Highlights:
Language Diversity in India
- India has over 1,300 mother tongues and 121 constitutionally recognised languages.
- Approximately 44% of Indian children start schooling in a language different from their home language, creating learning barriers.
Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
- MTB-MLE promotes teaching children initially in their native language, while gradually introducing other languages.
- This approach helps:
- Improve comprehension and learning outcomes
- Preserve cultural identity and linguistic diversity
- Promote inclusive education.
Alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
- NEP 2020 recommends using the child’s home language or mother tongue as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5.
- The policy emphasises multilingual learning to improve foundational literacy and numeracy.
State-Level Initiatives
- Odisha’s Multilingual Education Programme
- Covers 21 tribal languages across 17 districts.
- Supports nearly 90,000 children from tribal communities.
Digital and Technological Support
Several initiatives are supporting multilingual education:
- PM eVIDYA – digital learning platform.
- BHASHINI – AI-based language translation platform.
- AI4Bharat – language technology initiative.
- Adi Vaani – project documenting tribal languages.
Policy Recommendations by UNESCO
The report suggests:
- Launching a National Mission for Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education.
- Improving teacher training in multilingual pedagogy.
- Developing multilingual textbooks and learning materials.
- Strengthening community participation in education.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE)
- An education approach where initial learning occurs in the learner’s native language, while other languages are gradually introduced.
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
- Recommends mother tongue/local language as medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8.
- BHASHINI
- AI-powered language translation platform under the Digital India programme.
- Aims to enable digital services in Indian languages.
- UNESCO
- United Nations agency responsible for education, science, culture, and communication.
- Headquarters: Paris, France.
Relevant Mains Points:
Importance of Multilingual Education
- Enhances cognitive development and conceptual clarity in early education.
- Supports equitable education for tribal and linguistic minorities.
- Preserves traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
Challenges in Implementing MTB-MLE
- Shortage of trained multilingual teachers.
- Lack of teaching materials in many regional languages.
- Administrative and logistical difficulties in multilingual classrooms.
Social and Cultural Significance
- Recognising children’s home languages strengthens identity and dignity.
- Promotes inclusive education and social participation.
Way Forward
- Launch a national mission for multilingual education.
- Invest in language technology and digital translation tools.
- Strengthen teacher training in multilingual pedagogy.
- Encourage community involvement in language preservation.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS Paper 2: Governance and Social Justice – education policy and inclusive education
- GS Paper 1: Indian Society – linguistic diversity and cultural identity