We should shed colonial legacy by creating content in mother languages

Source– The post is based on the article “Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu writes: We should shed colonial legacy by creating content in mother languages”published in The Indian Express on 23th February 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Art and Culture

Relevance: Socio-Cultural development

News- The article emphasis the need to overhaul the language of education system to make it more inclusive and diverse

What is the viewpoint of UNESCO on mother language?

In November 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day in response to the declining state of many languages all over the world.

This year’s theme, “Multilingual education — a necessity to transform education,”

UNESCO states, a monolingual system of education which relies on “providing education in only one language that is not necessarily shared by all learners may negatively impact learning performance, and the development of socio-emotional and foundational literacy skills.”

What are the challenges with colonial era learning?

Even as we Amrit celebrate Azadi ka Mahotsav, to mark 75 years of Independence, we have not been able to shed this colonial legacy of dependence on English.

Educators and parents continue to accord unquestioned primacy to English and, as a result, the child is compelled to study his or her mother tongue as a “second/third language” at school.

Our emphasis on English has, ironically, made the educational system exclusive and restrictive.

While limiting the acquisition of knowledge in technical and professional courses, to a select few, we made it inaccessible to a vast majority of our students.

What are government initiatives in this regard?

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a farsighted document which advocates education in one’s mother tongue right from the primary-school level.

 AICTE’s landmark decision to permit BTech programmes in 11 native languages.

Government is looking forward for employment and job creation in mother languages ex-SSC.

What is the way forward?

Mother tongue as the medium of instruction gives confidence to youth.

Including mother languages in learning,we can fast-track methods to make quality education more accessible, equitable and inclusive.

Thus, steps need to be scaled up at all levels. We must involve all key stakeholders in education — policymakers, schools, colleges and universities, teachers, regulatory institutions and non-governmental bodies.