Integrating Skills and Vernacular Languages To Empower Education

The education landscape is changing, and education reforms are the need of the hour to seek progress at a national level. NEP is a step in this regard to match the pace of development for the Indian education system. 

Vinesh Menon, Co-Chair of the CII National Education Committee and CEO of Ampersand Group discussed the NEP (National Education Policy) progress and vernacular instructions in a holistic manner throughout the nation. He also mentioned the progress of the NEP in three broad areas: interpretation, implementation, and challenges. "The 62-page document, released in 2020 and cleared by the Cabinet, became a focal point of discussion during the pandemic. Even now, years later, the NEP continues to be a topic of conversation," he stated. 

Rajesh Surana, Director of Magnus Global School, highlighted the value of cultivating a wide range of skills. Surana also expressed concern that an overemphasis on academics by parents today can hinder children's confidence and ability to navigate future challenges effectively. "While advanced skills like AI are crucial, teaching something like pottery in grade 6 is equally important, as it nurtures imagination, planning, and creativity." He added further.

Embracing Diversity in Education:

Vernacular languages play a crucial role in enhancing learning ability and preserving cultural identity among regions. Lack of adequate resources and learning materials in these languages can hinder educational opportunities and students’ ability to grasp the curriculum. The NEP emphasises the importance of including instruction in vernacular languages.

Ravi Kumar Bhardwaj, Education Officer in the Department of Secondary Education, emphasised the transition from Hindi to English-medium schools as a significant achievement but noted a critical shortage of teachers and textbooks across languages. 

Reflecting on his experience, including a recent visit to a government school in Jaipur, Bhardwaj highlighted the persistent challenges in language education over his 34-year career, including the need to train teachers in various languages and the ongoing scarcity of resources like textbooks. He also stressed the importance of reducing hypocrisy in the system, particularly concerning the treatment of languages like Sanskrit.

Kanak Gupta, Group Director of the Seth M. R. Jaipuria Group of Schools, shared his insights on the role of vernacular instruction in education. He noted that many educators have misjudged the approach to ideation in these contexts. “We operate schools in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and this is an exciting time for educators due to the remarkable progress in student aspirations in these areas,"  he added further.

 NEP Envisions Change in Education:

The NEP 2020 is built upon five key pillars: access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability. These principles aim to equip our youth to tackle the diverse challenges faced both nationally and globally, now and in the future.

Sneha Rathore, CEO of Sanfort Group of Schools, expressed her enthusiasm for the NEP policy, describing it as a significant advancement in education. She noted that their pre-schools and primary schools across India have embraced local languages as a second language alongside English, which is widely spoken. Rathore emphasised the importance of communicating in Hindi, our mother tongue, as part of her educational approach.

“There is a scarcity of teaching resources for local languages, which makes education difficult. Although skill development is not improving much, there are some positive changes in language education, showing that things are getting better in this area despite the challenges,"  she added further. 

Akhilesh Chaturvedi, principal of DPS Maruti Kunj in Gurgaon, expressed his passion for running a great school that emphasises holistic learning. He noted that their teachers bring over 20 years of experience, with a historical focus on academics.

“The NEP has supported the idea that children should understand their local language, the national language, and English. He added, “We also teach foreign languages such as French, Japanese, and German,” he added further.

Kavi Bhandari

BW Reporters Editorial lead — BW Wellbeing