CBSE asked its affiliated schools to consider providing the option of Indian languages as a medium of instruction, from pre-primary classes to Class 12

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) requested its affiliated schools on Friday to explore adding Indian languages listed in Schedule 8 of the Constitution as a medium of instruction to the current options, from pre-primary to Class 12. The board has directed schools to investigate available resources, engage with subject matter experts, and partner with other schools to exchange best practises.

The change is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 implementation, which calls for the use of mother tongue or regional or Indian languages as the medium of teaching until at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. The policy also suggests encouraging pupils to be bilingual. CBSE director (academics) Joseph Emmanuel stated in a letter sent to the heads of all its affiliated schools that there were many challenges to the implementation of multilingual education and the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in terms of skilled teachers and high-quality multilingual textbooks, but the Union Ministry of Education has taken several steps to actualize education in Indian languages on the ground.

"One of the major steps taken recently is the ministry of education's directive to NCERT to prepare new textbooks in 22 scheduled Indian languages." "NCERT has prioritised this serious task so that textbooks in 22 scheduled languages can be made available to all students beginning with the next session," he said. Emmanuel went on to say that other similar moves had been made in the higher education sector. "The approach to medium of instruction should be consistent from elementary school to higher education." As a result, CBSE-affiliated schools must play an important part in this tremendous attempt by providing education in Indian languages," he added.

"In light of the aforementioned initiatives to facilitate education through Indian languages, CBSE affiliated schools may consider using Indian languages, as enumerated in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, as the medium of instruction from the foundational stage until the end of the Secondary Stage, i.e. from pre-primary classes until class XII as an optional medium in addition to other existing options," Emmanuel added.

The board has directed schools to investigate available resources, engage with subject matter experts, and partner with other schools to exchange best practises.