At ILP, foundational learning is at the heart of our work. And one of the first things that shapes how well a child learns is the language they’re taught in.

This is a real challenge in Jharkhand’s tribal communities, where many children start school in a language they don’t speak at home. When lessons are in an unfamiliar language, even basic reading and maths become harder to grasp.

To bridge this gap, the Government of Jharkhand runs the 𝗣𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗛 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲. It starts with the language children already know and gradually builds a bridge to Hindi. ILP supports PALASH in Simdega district through our partner, Language and Learning Foundation (LLF).

The approach reflects 𝗡𝗘𝗣 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to teach in the home language or mother tongue in the early grades wherever possible. It also supports 𝗡𝗜𝗣𝗨𝗡 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 sof foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by the end of Grade 3. The reasoning is simple: children who understand what’s being said in class can follow concepts, take part, and build core skills more easily.

To make this happen in classrooms, LLF works with the state government on learning materials, teacher training, academic mentoring and supportive supervision. Teachers are also encouraged to bring in local stories and cultural knowledge, so lessons connect to children’s everyday lives.

But the aim goes beyond teaching in a familiar language. It’s to help children understand concepts, build strong foundations, and learn other languages over time.

Because a child’s language should never limit their learning. It should be where learning begins.

#NEP2020 #NIPUNBharat #MultilingualEducation #FoundationalLearning #EducationForAll

* The PALASH (Promotion of Appropriate Language and Academic Skills for Holistic Education) Multilingual Education Programme is a mother tongue-based foundational learning initiative launched by the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC).