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Encouraged by the Ministry of Education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has spearheaded the process of creating primers in 52 vernacular languages from 17 states. Of note, the choice of languages is not limited to regional dialects, including those spoken in tribal communities. This will promote inclusion and development among marginalized groups, enhancing children’s ability to enjoy and understand subjects by encouraging reading in different languages.
Transformative Impact on Children
This government initiative looks set to be transformational. It will not only enrich the knowledge of the children but will also contribute to their all-round development. This marks an important milestone in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise of ‘Guarantee of Developed India @ 2047’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the provision of education in the mother tongue to children from early childhood in schools. He suggested that this will further improve the process of understanding the foundation of the subject.
These primers will be of great help in the education of young children. These 52 primers in Indian languages will transform the educational journey of students at a young age, proving especially helpful in the first few years. Facilitating learning through the mother tongue and local language lays the foundation for a rich educational journey, fosters deeper understanding, and develops lifelong learning skills.
Gateway to Cultural Heritage
Moreover, these languages are a gateway to the local culture, making it easier for young children to understand their heritage. Primers have been developed keeping in mind the requirements of each state, including different dialects and languages.
For instance, six languages or dialects have been identified in Odisha: Gadaba, Juang, Kui, Kisan, Santhali-Odia, and Soura. Similarly, primers prepared for Assam are in eight languages – Assamese, Bodo, Deori, Dimasa, Hmar, Karbi, Mising, and Tiwa.
The primers in Manipur are also in six languages: Anal, Kabui (Rongmai), Liangmai, Manipuri, Mao, and Tangkhul. The initiative also extends to other states like Nagaland, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal, with specific languages or dialects identified for each. Education is not merely the acquisition of degrees or the pursuit of learning; it is the noble task of character development and nation-building.
Our National Education Policy has been formulated with this overarching objective. Today, about 170 million children across the country are experiencing difficulties in the traditional school system due to social, economic, and linguistic reasons.
The adoption of the National Education Policy is only the beginning; the government is committed to its comprehensive implementation. The first goal is to fully implement this policy; we are going to implement 100 percent. While prioritising foundational literacy among children, the ambition is to nurture a strong and enlightened generation for a ‘developed India’.
