Mukhtar Ahmad Qureshi
The significance of identity and language in shaping our identities is emphasized on International Mother Language Day, which falls on February 21st annually. It is important to recognize the importance of languages as safeguarding languages and their role in cultural communication. It all began in 1952 when the people of Bangladesh were protesting against the bangla. This day is rooted in this tradition. By striving to find a truth, they solidified the notion that our first language is not only incredibly useful for learning and communicating with oneself.’
Should we as policymakers, parents, and educators consider allowing our children to study in their native language? Studies have shown that home language instruction is more advantageous for children’s success in school. The implementation of India’s National Education Policy 2020 highlights the need to use one’ s mother tongue as the primary language for instruction, especially in early childhood. The implementation of this policy can facilitate more inclusive, accessible and effective learning. In what way does the mother tongue influence the alignment of NEP 2020 with International Mother Language Day? Let’s find out.
How mother languages impact education
As children, we speak our first words. We use the language to express our emotions, comprehend our surroundings, and form connections. Most countries and Indians require children to learn a language they are not proficient in before their school years. This creates a challenge, making it more difficult to comprehend, diminishing their confidence, and sometimes even hindering them from learning.
Why?
If a child is given unintentionally English or Hindi lessons in an environment where they speak Kashmiri, Bengalis or Tamil at home but are taught unfamiliar languages, what would happen? This is not only challenging to comprehend, but it will also be lost on the child. What does this mean? UNESCO, which is in charge of organizing International Mother Language Day, emphasizes the importance that multilingual education and mother tongue based learning should have. NEP 2020 acknowledges the concept and strives to prevent children from losing their innate curiosity in their language and culture during quality schooling.
The language based model of NEP 2020
Over 19,500 languages and dialects can be found in India, which is a significant cultural centre. The National Education Policy 2020 recognizes the magnificence of this setting and makes significant adjustments to enhance mother tongue education.
1. The rule states that for grades 5, the student’s mother language or regional language should be used as the medium of instruction, if applicable, up to Grade 8. This allows children to develop a strong conceptual understanding in early childhood without having trouble with an unfamiliar language.
2. The NEP 2020 policy promotes a three language system that encourages students to learn the national language, an international language and preferably their native language. This permits students to maintain their cultural identity while maintaining their linguistic flexibility.’
3. High quality textbooks and learning materials in regional languages are produced by the company, with a particular emphasis on translation and resource development. Policy. It is of great importance to non-native speakers because many subjects in higher education are primarily taught in English.
4. Teacher training programs will be improved by NEP 2020 to ensure that students are taught in their own language.
Benefits from learning mother tongue
Teachers are asked if they believe a child can still attend university in their country of origin after school. Studies indicate that children who are proficient in their mother tongue have better academic performance, strong cognitive abilities, and can learn other languages more quickly. Here’s why:
Cognitive Development is believed to be improved by children’s ability not to encounter translational barriers and being able to comprehend more complex concepts in their native language. They enhance their problem solving and critical thinking abilities, leading to improved academic performance.
Improved self-awareness and participation
A student who is proficient in the language of instruction is more confident in their ability to ask questions, engage in class discussions with peers, and express themselves without hesitation. The learning experience and involvement in school are heightened by this. Hence, they become more engaged.
Despite the belief that learning languages outside of one’s native language results in a decline in English proficiency, research shows that having mastered the first language can lead to an improvement in other languages. Additionally, fluency in French is associated with higher levels of success in foreign education. The education system in Finland, South Korea, and Germany is consistently ranked highly globally for early mother tongues. This trend persists. The preservation of culture requires language that is free from historical, cultural, and identity based influences. The acquisition of knowledge of a child’s mother tongue assists in building their sense of cultural pride and belonging.
Learning the mother tongue poses challenges
NEP 2020 is a visionary and ambitious program, but its execution is not without challenges. Some of these include:
Most teachers are trained to teach in dominant languages like Hindi or English, which is a drawback of Teacher Training. The upgrade is necessary for teaching in the mother tongue.
The importance of English-medium education is often emphasized by parents as the key to success. English is important, but we should also emphasize that a solid foundation in the mother tongue leads to better grades. Why?
What can we do?
The realization of the value of mother tongue education is a collective effort among educators, parents, and policymakers.
Ideas: Encourage schools to offer instruction in local languages and produce high quality textbooks for the community.
Support educators to learn and employ local languages: Teacher training modules should be intensified to prepare teachers with multilingual pedagogy.
Encourage parents to adopt the mother tongue: Parents need to realize that a child who knows their mother tongue will find it easier to learn other languages, including English.
Embracing our linguistic diversity
International Mother Language Day reminds us of the potency of language in defining our selves and learning experience. NEP 2020 makes an important step in acknowledging the importance of mother tongue education, the way towards a more inclusive and efficient learning system in India.
If we really wish to create a knowledge based, creative, and vibrant society, then we need to make sure each child has access to learning in the language in which they best comprehend. If we celebrate our mother tongues as a strength instead of a hindrance, then we are ushering in an era of better times, times when education comes within reach for all.
(The author is a teacher. He hails from Boniyar, Baramulla and can be reached at [email protected])
