VP bats for usage of mother tongue as medium of instruction in schools at least till primary level

Chennai, June 29 (Agency) Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu today battedfor adopting mother tongue as the medium of instruction in public andprivate schools, at least until the primary level. Speaking after inaugurating the Vellore International School (VIS) on theoutskirts of the city, he said “we must pay attention to is the use of mothertongue in school education. Wherever possible, at least until the primarylevel, we must have the medium of instruction in public and private schoolsin the mother tongue”. “We must encourage students to speak freely in their mother tongue intheir social environment – in the school premises, in all the cultural eventsand at their homes. Only when we can freely and proudly speak our mothertongue can we truly appreciate our cultural heritage”, he added. Reiterating that focusing on our mother tongue is not to suggest that oneneed not learn other languages like English, the Vice President said “in fact, I often say that one should learn as many languages as possible.

But whatis required is a strong foundation in the mother language.” “Studies have shown that multilingualism can lead to better cognitivedevelopment in children. Proficiency in other languages, in addition toone’s mother tongue, helps build cultural bridges and opens windowsto new worlds of experience”, he said. Appealing to the schools across the nation to foster the spirit of curiosity,innovation and excellence in students, Naidu said in the technology-drivenfast changing world, challenges and opportunities abound.”In this context, the best skill schools can impart a student today is that ofadaptability. Students must be trained to think quickly on their feet, be agileand innovate using cutting-edge technologies to solve 21st century problems”,he said. “We must have an educational strategy aligned to this futuristic approachand shun rote learning.

We must also do away with the artificial segregationbetween curricular and extracurricular activities and encouragemulti-disciplinarity in education”, Naidu said.In the old Gurukul system, the teacher spent time and stayed with the student,allowing for the character moulding and correct assessment of the pupil. “AtVIS I am happy to be informed that they are trying to introduce a concept of‘house parent’ to integrate the positive aspects of Guru Shishya paramparawith modern pedagogical practices”, the Vice President said. Naidu said schooling lays the most important foundation for a student’s academicand professional excellence in later years. But more importantly, the time a childspends in school during his/her formative years shapes their personality andmoulds their character. “This becomes the biggest determinant in not only the individual’s success at apersonal level – but is also key to build model citizenry that can take the countryforward”, he added.

Schools must focus on value-based, holistic education that brings out the greatest potential and the highest virtues from each student. Remember, education withoutvalues is no education at all, he noted.In the effort for an all-round growth of students, academic institutions must striveto provide the required facilities and encourage students to take up regular physicalactivity. Students must enthusiastically take up sports or any form of exercise whichappeals to them and build a healthy lifestyle, Naidu said.It is the bane of modern, competitive education that students are often constrainedto the four-walls of the classroom in the name of academics. They must experiencethe world outside – spend time in the lap of nature, interact with all sections of societyand understand various crafts and trades. Classroom programmes must be ablysupplemented with active participation in field activities, social awareness andcommunity service initiatives, he said. “There is a dire need to inculcate the spirit of service in students from a young age”,he said.