GUWAHATI: The Assam government has unveiled plans to introduce tribal languages into the basic education curriculum.
The initiative aims to adopt a multilingual teaching medium, allowing students to commence their education in their mother tongue and transition to regional or English language during their secondary school years.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu chaired a crucial meeting recently to finalise the roadmap for incorporating tribal languages, including Mising, Deuri, Dimasa, Tiwa, and others, into the foundational and preparatory phases of school education.
The decision is part of a broader strategy in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020.
During the meeting, Pegu engaged with linguistic organisations representing different communities to garner insights and build a consensus on the introduction of these languages as a medium of instruction.
Pegu took to his official social media handle to share updates on the discussion, stating, “It has been broadly agreed upon to proceed with a multilingual approach so that students can start primary education in their mother tongue and subsequently switch over to regional or English language for secondary school education.”
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) is set to play a pivotal role in this educational transformation by providing textbooks in tribal languages.
An official announcement indicated that the implementation of this progressive curriculum is scheduled to take effect with the upcoming academic session.
Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Pegu said, “The meeting deliberated on the Sahitya Sabhas of Assam on Language Education Strategy at the Foundational Stage as per NEP, 2020, organised by SCERT in Guwahati.”
The introduction of tribal languages into the curriculum is poised to celebrate the rich heritage of Assam’s indigenous communities while providing a strong foundation for academic growth.
