Embracing Mother-Tongue in Early Education: A Call from Literary Conference

Tara Bhavalkar, president of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference, advocates for teaching young students in their mother-tongue. She opposes the Maharashtra government's new language policy and warns against introducing foreign languages early, stressing the importance of aligning education with students' developmental capacities.

Tara Bhavalkar, the president of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference, has voiced strong support for teaching young students in their mother-tongue. Addressing the ongoing debate over language education in Maharashtra, she emphasized the necessity of aligning educational practices with the physical and mental capacities of children in Classes one to four.

Bhavalkar's comments come in response to the Maharashtra government's plan to establish Hindi as the third language in Marathi and English medium schools for Classes 1 to 5, starting in the academic year 2025-26. She expressed concern that early introductions to multiple languages could be detrimental to students' understanding of their mother-tongue and impede their overall learning experience.

In light of these developments, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured the public that a final decision regarding the three-language formula will only be taken after thorough consultations with various stakeholders. Bhavalkar, however, remains steadfast in her belief that young students should first grasp their mother-tongue before tackling foreign languages, to prevent unjust and non-educational practices.

(With inputs from agencies.)