UNESCO Report Advocates for Mother-Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in India
On International Mother Language Day, UNESCO released the 'Bhasha Matters' report, highlighting the critical role of mother-tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) in India. The report notes that nearly 44% of Indian children enter school speaking a language different from the medium of instruction, leading to learning gaps and higher dropout rates. It aligns with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places the child's home language at the center of early education. The report showcases successful digital initiatives like DIKSHA and Bhashini that support multilingual learning through AI and community-developed resources.
Key Points
- MTB-MLE is described as not only pedagogically sound but also transformative for inclusive and equitable education.
- The report provides 10 policy recommendations to guide India toward a more effective multilingual education system.
- Digital tools and AI are identified as key assets for creating local-language content and supporting teachers in multilingual classrooms.
Exam Facts
- International Mother Language Day (February 21)
- UNESCO State of the Education Report for India
- NEP 2020
- DIKSHA and Bhashini platforms
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