Mother Tongue Education in India: NEP 2020 Insights

Mother Tongue Education in India: Benefits, Challenges & NEP 2020’s Vision

Introduction

India is a linguistic mosaic, with 22 official languages, 121 languages spoken by at least 10,000 people, and over 19,500 dialects (Census of India, 2011). This diversity shapes the nation’s cultural richness but also complicates its education system, where the medium of instruction significantly influences learning outcomes, cultural identity, and social equity. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has spotlighted mother tongue education, recommending its use as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5 to bolster foundational literacy and numeracy (Ministry of Education, 2020). Research consistently shows that children learn best in their native language, which supports cognitive growth, academic success, and cultural connection. Yet, implementing this approach in India’s multilingual context is challenging, as seen in recent controversies like the Maharashtra government’s decision to introduce Hindi as a third language in schools and the persistent issue of teacher availability. This article examines the benefits, policy framework, challenges, research evidence, case studies, recent developments, and the critical role of teacher training in mother tongue education, asserting its importance for quality education in India.

Benefits of Mother Tongue Education

Mother tongue education offers a spectrum of advantages that enhance child development and educational outcomes:

• Cognitive Development: Learning in a familiar language enables children to focus on understanding concepts rather than struggling with an unfamiliar medium. This fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. A study by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) found that students taught in their mother tongue scored 15% higher in mathematics and science than those in a second language (CIIL, 2023).

• Cultural Identity: Education in the mother tongue reinforces cultural heritage and self-esteem, especially for marginalized groups like tribal communities whose languages face extinction risks. It validates linguistic identity, promoting social cohesion.

• Academic Performance: Students taught in their native language demonstrate improved retention and proficiency over time. In Odisha, a longitudinal study reported a 20% higher retention rate among students in mother tongue programs (Odisha Education Department, 2022).

• Second Language Acquisition: A solid mother tongue foundation facilitates learning additional languages like English, crucial for economic opportunities in India. Transferable skills such as grammar and comprehension enhance multilingual competence.

• Reduced Drop-Out Rates: Familiarity with the instructional language boosts engagement, lowering drop-out rates, particularly in rural and tribal areas. A Rajasthan pilot saw a 12% reduction in dropouts over two years.

These benefits highlight mother tongue education’s potential to create an inclusive, effective educational system.

Policy Framework in India

India’s policy and legal frameworks provide robust support for mother tongue education:

• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The NEP 2020 advocates for the mother tongue or local language as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, and preferably Grade 8, emphasizing cognitive and cultural development (Ministry of Education, 2020). It promotes bilingual approaches and multilingual curricula development.

• Constitutional Provisions: Article 350A mandates that primary education be provided in the mother tongue wherever practicable, ensuring linguistic inclusivity (Government of India, 1950).

• Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009: Section 29(f) aligns with this mandate, reinforcing the use of the mother tongue in education (Ministry of Human Resource Development, 2009).

• Supporting Initiatives: The DIKSHA portal offers resources in 32 Indian languages, enhancing accessibility. The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has introduced translation tools for 11 Indian languages, broadening technical education access.

These policies align with global multilingual education advocacy, providing a foundation for mother tongue education in India.

Challenges in Implementation

Implementing mother tongue education faces significant hurdles:

• Linguistic Diversity: With 121 languages and over 19,500 dialects, standardizing curricula and training teachers is a logistical challenge. Minoritized languages often lack resources, as seen with the Ho language in Jharkhand, which had no curriculum until 2023.

• Migration and Language Mismatch: Migrant children often encounter a disconnect between their mother tongue and the local instructional language, such as a Telugu-speaking child in a Hindi-medium school in Uttar Pradesh.

• Societal Preference for English: Many parents prioritizes English-medium education for economic advantages, resisting mother tongue programs. A survey by the Azim Premji Foundation found 70% of urban parents favored English-medium schools.

• Resource Constraints: Developing textbooks and training teachers for minoritized languages demands substantial investment. Rajasthan’s pilot faced delays due to insufficient materials and trained educators.

• Policy Resistance: The Three-Language Formula (mother tongue, Hindi, English) faces opposition in non-Hindi-speaking states, as evidenced by Maharashtra’s recent language policy controversy.

Overcoming these challenges requires strategic resource allocation and societal mindset shifts.

Evidence from Research

Research supports mother tongue education’s efficacy:

• Cognitive and Academic Benefits: Children taught in their mother tongue show stronger cognitive skills and academic outcomes. UNESCO notes that 50% of children in low-income countries lack instruction in a familiar language, impacting learning (UNESCO, 2016).

• Global Examples: Nations like Singapore and Japan, prioritizing mother tongue education, excel in PISA assessments, suggesting potential benefits for India.

• Cost-Effectiveness: Bilingual programs in Guatemala reduced dropouts, saving US$5 million annually. Similar efficiencies could benefit India.

• Indian Context: While 72% of primary students are taught in their mother tongue, only 16.2% of Grade 1 students could read Grade 1-level text in 2019, indicating implementation gaps.

These findings underscore the need for effective mother tongue education strategies.

Case Studies from Indian States

Successful state-level initiatives provide models for scaling mother tongue education:

• Rajasthan: A pilot in two districts used trilingual dictionaries (local dialect, Hindi, English) for tribal children, improving engagement and attendance.

• Chhattisgarh: Socio-linguistic mapping of 400,000 students identified 24 languages, with teacher training enhancing vocabulary acquisition.

• Jharkhand: A program expanded to 1,000 schools used bilingual books in Ho and Santali, boosting learning outcomes.

• Odisha: The “Nua Arunima” curriculum in 21 languages improved early literacy for Anganwadi children.

• Assam: Aligning materials with linguistic backgrounds enhanced classroom inclusivity.

These cases demonstrate the impact of targeted interventions.

The Maharashtra Language Policy Controversy

In June 2025, Maharashtra mandated Hindi as the “general” third language for Classes 1-5 in Marathi and English-medium schools, following an April 2025 compulsory Hindi policy that was reversed amid protests. The revised policy allows opting for another Indian language if 20 students per grade request it. Marathi advocates like Deepak Pawar criticized it as a “backdoor imposition,” threatening regional identity. Opposition leaders, including Harshwardhan Sapkal, accused the government of an “anti-Maharashtra agenda.” This controversy reflects tensions between national integration and regional linguistic preservation, complicating mother tongue education efforts.

Availability of Language Teachers and Training

Teacher availability and training are pivotal for mother tongue education:

• Policy Initiatives: NEP 2020 allocates Rs 9,000 crore to upgrade 613 DIETs into “DIETs of Excellence” for teacher training (Times of India, 2024). CIIL supports training for various languages (CIIL, 2024).

• State Efforts: Chhattisgarh trained teachers for 24 languages, while West Bengal and Kerala focus on Bengali and Malayalam.

• Challenges: Teacher shortages persist, especially for minoritized languages, with urban-rural disparities complicating recruitment.

• Official Languages: Of India’s 22 scheduled languages, Hindi and English dominate, while languages like Santali lack trained educators.

Addressing these gaps is critical for implementation.

Recommendations

To advance mother tongue education:

• Teacher Training: Expand multilingual training programs.

• Resource Development: Enhance platforms like DIKSHA for more languages.

• Community Engagement: Leverage parental support, as in Rajasthan.

• Socio-Linguistic Mapping: Tailor strategies to local contexts.

• Balanced Policies: Respect regional identities while promoting multilingualism.

Conclusion

Mother tongue education is a vital means for quality education in India, supported by NEP 2020 and research. Despite challenges, successful state models and strategic interventions can bridge gaps, ensuring an inclusive education system that celebrates India’s linguistic diversity.