NEW DELHI: The UGC has written to all chief ministers and Governors requesting them to encourage teaching and production of textbooks in mother tongue in the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in their respective states.
In his letter, UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said: “Teaching through Indian languages is a key area of focus of the National Education Policy 2020. The policy emphasises on the importance of teaching and teaching material in the mother tongue. It is heartening to note that textbooks in the mother tongue and local languages are promoted and used by higher education institutions in our country,” Kumar said.
He added that teaching is also being imparted in the mother tongue and local languages in many colleges and universities in undergraduate programmes in social sciences, commerce and science. “This has benefited students from all strata of our society, particularly the disadvantaged sections and those residing in rural and remote areas,” he added.
However, he said it is a matter of concern that textbooks and study material are unavailable in local languages for many of the courses in higher education like science, commerce and professional courses.
“Hence as a first step in providing quality education in the mother tongue as recommended in NEP 2020, it is desired that textbooks may be produced in the mother tongue, local language through writing or translation for subjects of which textbooks are not available in local languages at present.”
Urging the HEIs to prepare a list of textbooks/ study material which are unavailable in local languages and identify scholars who can write or translate, Kumar said: “Promotion of writing or translation of textbooks and teaching process in undergraduate and postgraduate levels in higher education through mother tongue medium will have greater results in improved Gross Enrolment Ratio from 27% to 50% by 2035, increased access to disadvantageous social groups, and better reach.”
In his letter, UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said: “Teaching through Indian languages is a key area of focus of the National Education Policy 2020. The policy emphasises on the importance of teaching and teaching material in the mother tongue. It is heartening to note that textbooks in the mother tongue and local languages are promoted and used by higher education institutions in our country,” Kumar said.
He added that teaching is also being imparted in the mother tongue and local languages in many colleges and universities in undergraduate programmes in social sciences, commerce and science. “This has benefited students from all strata of our society, particularly the disadvantaged sections and those residing in rural and remote areas,” he added.
However, he said it is a matter of concern that textbooks and study material are unavailable in local languages for many of the courses in higher education like science, commerce and professional courses.
“Hence as a first step in providing quality education in the mother tongue as recommended in NEP 2020, it is desired that textbooks may be produced in the mother tongue, local language through writing or translation for subjects of which textbooks are not available in local languages at present.”
Urging the HEIs to prepare a list of textbooks/ study material which are unavailable in local languages and identify scholars who can write or translate, Kumar said: “Promotion of writing or translation of textbooks and teaching process in undergraduate and postgraduate levels in higher education through mother tongue medium will have greater results in improved Gross Enrolment Ratio from 27% to 50% by 2035, increased access to disadvantageous social groups, and better reach.”
