‘In our country, many children used to leave their studies midway due to language difficulties. The new National Education Policy is also helping in eliminating such hardships. It is our endeavour that language should not become a hindrance in the education and progress of any child.‘

These words by PM Modi in his 108th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on December 31, 2023 made sense. One of the reasons behind some children giving up on studies is the problem in understanding what was being taught in the school using the English language. This is also a reason why the Central government has been promoting the usage of Indian languages in our education system.

However, can it work? Experts have had mixed opinions on it, especially in this day and age of technical advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence.

Some parents believe that the reason they send their children to school is to ensure they learn everything there by the subject experts which the family would otherwise not be able to teach at home. “My son goes to an English-medium school (which is currently seen as the normal schooling system), but we talk in Hindi at home because of which he is fluent in English and Hindi. We also have a Bengali neighbour, so my son has picked up bits and pieces of Bangla too. If I send my child to an English-medium school it is simply because I want him to learn communication in that language. I can teach him local languages at home,” says Anu Jain, a Delhi parent from Laxmi Nagar.

Some experts opine that students are often able to express themselves better in their mother tongue and have more clarity of thoughts and understanding in their local languages. However, the recent ASER 2023 data also shows that about 25 per cent of children (i.e. about one in four children) in the age group of 14-18 still cannot read a Class 2 level text fluently in their regional language.

While learning the Indian languages/ mother tongue is one of the debates behind the idea of having a school curriculum in Indian languages, another reason is to promote the languages. However, experts and parents believe that while this sounds good on paper, we cannot negate the importance of the global language, English, which often acts as the window to the world.

“Students from Hindi-medium schools may face challenges in competitive exams, which are predominantly conducted in English. The language barrier can potentially put them at a disadvantage compared to their English-medium counterparts,” says Devyani Jaipuria, Pro-Vice Chairperson, DPS International.

Parents are also apprehensive that the transition from Hindi to English on a global level may put their children at a disadvantage. “If my kid wants to take up medical studies after his high school, she will have to understand the basic terms which are in English and that won’t be possible if Biology is taught in Hindi,” a parent from Noida said on condition of anonymity.

Experts also agree that while the idea behind this is good, the resources to fulfil this NEP 2020 dream are lacking in the country at this point. “Providing a complete high school education in Hindi or the local language is feasible, yet challenges include curriculum alignment and the need for suitable textbooks. Also, balancing proficiency in English, a global language, is crucial for future opportunities. We aim for a bilingual/multilingual approach to offer a well-rounded education preserving cultural diversity while preparing students for a globalised world,” says Dr Skand Bali, principal, The Hyderabad Public School.

As an alternative, Alka Kapur, principal of Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh suggests having more inter- and intra-class competitions to develop interest in local languages. “The literature of the local languages should be made official to ignite curiosity and love for their language. Students should not be discouraged in case they converse in their native language. And, they must not be compelled to speak in English or any other foreign language,” she explained.

Another push for promotion of Indian languages can come from the advancement of technology in the education sector. Due to the recent advancements in technology in the education sector, the idea of ‘education anytime anywhere is possible’ and ‘learning in local languages’ has been highly promoted.

According to an information in ASER 2023, almost half the population surveyed has used mobile phones for their studies. Although this is a large proportion, it is smaller than the population using smartphones for watching YouTube videos. A lot of these videos explain educational concepts in Indian languages which can help students. Additionally, AI-based tutoring programmes can also help in this aspect, experts believe. “As the technology advances rapidly, such programs available in local languages will be easily possible,” the ASER 2023 states.