Studying in Mother Tongue Instils Strong Values: CJI

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; Government Policy & Intervention; Education

Context

• Recently, the Chief Justice of India underscored the enduring value of education in one’s mother tongue, calling it a cornerstone of personal growth and ethical grounding.

About

• A language is an umbrella term which contains many mother tongues.
• India is a linguistically diverse country, and one of the richest in the world — with over 1,300 rationalized mother tongues and 122 major languages spoken by more than 10,000 people each.
• In ancient gurukuls and madrasas, students learned through Sanskrit, Pali, Persian, or regional dialects.
• However, colonial education policies introduced English as the dominant medium, marginalizing native languages and creating a linguistic divide that persists today.
• The push for mother tongue-based education is more than a pedagogical shift — it’s a cultural renaissance.
  • Language was not just a medium — it was a carrier of values, identity, and indigenous knowledge.

Present Form

• Commissions like Radhkrishnan (1948), Mudaliar (1952-53), Kothari (1964-66), and the National Policy on Education (1986) stated that education should be provided in the mother tongue in early ages at Primary School Level.
• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework 2023 mark a paradigm shift by advocating for mother tongue or home language as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. It is backed by:
  • Right to Education Act, 2009, which mandates mother tongue instruction ‘as far as practicable’.
  • Initiatives like NIPUN Bharat, Vidya Pravesh, and NISHTHA FLN, which promote foundational literacy through native languages.
  • CBSE’s recent push for language mapping and regional-language primers in 52 Indian languages, including tribal tongues like Bhutia, Kuki, and Sherpa, to support early education.

Arguments For Teaching in the Mother Tongue

• Cognitive and Academic Benefits: Children grasp concepts more easily when taught in a language they understand from birth.
  • Studies show improved critical thinking, literacy, and problem-solving skills when early education is delivered in the mother tongue.
• Cultural Identity and Confidence: Learning in one’s native language fosters self-esteem, cultural pride, and a stronger sense of identity.
  • It helps preserve linguistic diversity and indigenous knowledge systems.
• Better Learning Outcomes: UNESCO and UNICEF report that students taught in their mother tongue perform better in reading comprehension and numeracy in early grades.
  • It reduces dropout rates and increases classroom participation.

Arguments Against Teaching in the Mother Tongue

• Limited Global Competitiveness: Overemphasis on regional languages may hinder English proficiency, which is often essential for higher education and global job markets.
• Implementation Challenges: In linguistically diverse regions, it’s difficult to choose a single ‘mother tongue’ for instruction.
  • There’s a shortage of trained teachers fluent in local languages and a lack of quality textbooks.
• Transition Difficulties: Students may struggle when switching from mother tongue to English or other languages in later grades, especially in science and technical subjects.
  • Some learners become overly reliant on their native language and avoid using the second language, limiting fluency development.

Way Forward

• Promote bilingual education, starting with the mother tongue and gradually integrating English.
• Invest in teacher training and multilingual resources.
• Respect regional autonomy while aligning with national goals.

Source: TH