Lok Sabha Question No. 4218 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-27
Subject: Teachers Training for Multilingual Education Policy under NEP
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4218 ANSWERED ON 27/03/2023

## Teachers Training for Multilingual Education Policy under NEP

4218.  SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA): DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  provide  support  to  train  school  teachers  in  regional languages  to  implement  the  policy  of  regional-language  based  instructions  for  school  children  as envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  prepared  any  detailed  action  plan  for  the  implementation  of  the Multilingual Education (MLE) policy under the NEP;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of any pilot project the Government has undertaken or plans to undertake to try the MLE model in schools; and

(f) the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (f): The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 has placed a strong emphasis on multilingual and  multicultural  education.  NEP  2020  inter-alia,  provides  that  wherever  possible,  the  medium  of instruction  until  at  least  Grade  5,  but  preferably  till  Grade  8  and  beyond,  is  to  be  the  home language/mother tongue/local  language/regional  language.  Thereafter,  the  home/local  language  shall continue to be taught as a language wherever possible.

In addition, National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers for Holistic Advancement - NISHTHA 3.0 online has been launched to train the teachers from Early Childhood care and Education (ECCE) upto grade V.  It  has  12  training  modules  including  a  dedicated  module  on  Multilingual  teaching  in foundational years, which also covers usage of mother tongue / home language in teaching.

As per National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, implementation of the Policy requires multiple initiatives and actions, which are to be taken up in a synchronized and systematic manner, by multiple bodies including  Ministry  of  Education,  CABE,  State/UT  Governments,  education-related  Ministries,  State Departments of Education, Boards, NTA, the regulatory bodies of school and higher education, NCERT, SCERTs, schools and HEIs.

In  pursuance  of  the  goals  and  objectives  of  the  NEP  2020  and  to  assist  States,  UTs  and  other organisations in this task, the Department of School Education & Literacy has developed an indicative and  suggestive  NEP  Implementation  Plan  for  School  Education,  'Students'  and  'Teachers'  Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ)'. SARTHAQ provides for States/UTs to develop guidelines, resources, and support material for teachers on multilingualism, in order to harness the power of  language.  For  introducing  home  language/mother  tongue/local  language/regional  language  as  the medium of instruction, following steps can be taken up in any chronology or even simultaneously, or as deemed fit by the State/UT:

- (i) Step 1: Linguistic mapping of each area
- (ii) Step 2: Sensitization and orientation of educational administrators
- (iii) Step 3: Orientation of teachers on multilingual education
- (iv) Step 4: Creation of learning material in local languages
- (v) Step 5: Initiating the classroom teaching in mother tongue in certain areas on priority
- (vi) Step 6: Phased wise introduction in the rest of the schools

Further, Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution and majority of the schools are under the domain of the States/UTs. The recruitment, service conditions, training and deployment of teachers come under the purview of the respective State and Union Territory (UT) Government. Ministry of Education requests the States and UT Governments for training of teachers through Review meetings and advisories from time to time. Further, the Central Government through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha, provides assistance to the States and UTs for training of in-service teachers as per the prescribed norms for various levels of schooling.

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