In a groundbreaking move to enhance education in tribal regions, the Chhattisgarh government is set to provide primary education in 18 local languages and dialects. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for the medium of instruction to be the mother tongue or local language at least up to the fifth standard.
An official from the Education Department stated that in these tribal areas, primary school exams can also be taken in local languages and dialects, ensuring that students can learn and be assessed in their native languages.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has spearheaded this initiative, directing the State Education Department to develop and distribute bilingual books in 18 local languages and dialects at no cost. The focus is on providing high-quality educational resources to the children in these remote regions.
“The new initiative of providing education in the local language will also help preserve local culture and traditions,” said Chief Minister Sai during his address at the state-level ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ programme in Bagiya village, located in the tribal-dominated Jashpur district.
Also read: PM Modi advocates for institutions imparting education in the local language.
The ‘Shala Praveshotsav’ is an annual event aimed at motivating children to enrol in schools at the start of the new academic session. This year’s event was notably moved from the state capital, Raipur, to Bagiya, the hometown of the Chief Minister, underscoring the government’s commitment to grassroots educational development.
This pioneering step is expected to significantly impact the educational landscape in Chhattisgarh’s tribal areas, promoting literacy and the preservation of cultural heritage.
