The Hindu: Published on 10th March 2025:
Why in News?
Recently, Tamil Nadu's refusal to adopt the three-language policy proposed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has reignited the long-standing debate on language policies in education.
This issue emerged due to concerns regarding language imposition and the flexibility provided by NEP 2020.
Language Provisions in NEP 2020:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which replaces the Education Policy of 1986, states that wherever possible, students in both public and private schools should be taught in their mother tongue, local language, or regional language at least till Grade 5, preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
After this stage, the mother tongue or local language should continue as a subject wherever possible.
NEP 2020 emphasizes that children learn faster and more effectively in their home language during their early years.
The policy document mentions that between the ages of 2 to 8 years, children have the highest capacity to grasp languages, and introducing multilingualism during this period enhances cognitive development.
Key Findings of the All India School Education Survey (AISES):
The 8th All India School Education Survey (AISES) conducted by NCERT highlights some important insights regarding language instruction in schools:
86.62% of primary schools teach in the mother tongue, which has reduced from 92.07% in the previous survey.
The survey also reveals an urban-rural divide:
87.56% rural schools use the mother tongue as the medium of instruction.
80.99% urban schools use the mother tongue for instruction.
What is the Three-Language Formula?
- The Three-Language Formula proposed in NEP 2020 differs from the earlier 1968 policy, which required:
- In Hindi-speaking states: Hindi, English, and a modern Indian language (preferably a South Indian language).
- In non-Hindi-speaking states: Hindi, English, and a regional language.
- NEP 2020 introduces greater flexibility by ensuring that no language will be imposed on any state.
- However, the policy promotes some specific languages:
- Special emphasis has been placed on Sanskrit, encouraging its inclusion in the three-language formula.
- Additionally, classical languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, along with Pali, Persian, and Prakrit have been recommended as options.
Promoting Mother Tongue in Education:
To promote mother tongue-based education, the NCERT released 104 digital books in regional languages in 2024.
These languages include Bengali, Khandeshi, Tulu, Ladakhi, Pashto, Bhili, Dogri, and Car Nicobarese, among others.
States like Assam and Andhra Pradesh have introduced bilingual textbooks in regional languages like Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, and Telugu along with English.
Implementation Challenges of the Three-Language Formula:
The implementation of the three-language formula has faced challenges:
In Haryana, Tamil was introduced as a second language in 1969, but later removed in 2010 due to a shortage of Tamil teachers.
Similarly, in Himachal Pradesh, officials could not implement Telugu and Tamil as language options due to a lack of qualified teachers.
Foreign Language Provisions in NEP 2020:
NEP 2020 also proposes that foreign languages such as Korean, Japanese, Thai, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian can be introduced at the secondary school level.
According to the CBSE plan, students are required to study two Indian languages till Class 10, while in Class 11 and 12, they can choose one Indian language and one foreign language as subjects.
Conclusion:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to promote effective learning by prioritizing mother tongue-based education and encouraging multilingual skills.
While the policy offers flexibility and inclusivity, its implementation has faced challenges such as teacher shortages and resource limitations.
Successful implementation will require coordination between the NCERT, SCERT, and respective state governments to ensure language diversity and educational progress.
