Question : Multi-Lingual Education Programme

(a) whether there is a National Policy on multi-lingual education in schools, especially in tribal areas and if so, the details thereof;
(b) if not, whether the Government proposes to formulate a policy in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of regional and tribal communities identified in States/UTs which require multi-lingual education programmes; (d) the requirement and availability of teachers for such programmes;
(e) whether there is a nodal agency that co-ordinates multi-lingual education programmes across Central, State and District level and if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the budgetary allocation made for multi-lingual education programmes during the current financial year?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b): The National Education Policy recommends Three-Languages Formula at the Secondary stage which includes the study of a modern Indian language apart from Hindi and English in the Hindi-speaking States, and of Hindi along with the regional language and English in the Non-Hindi-speaking States.

(c) & (d): Education being in the concurrent list of the Constitution, with the majority of school under the purview of the State/UT Governments, this Ministry has not identified regional and tribal communities requiring multi-lingual education, or the availability of teachers for such programmes.
(e): The Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore conducted various programmes and developed various materials on Indian languages. The seven Regional Language Centres provide support to the States and Union Territories of the country in implementing the Three Language Formula in order to promote National Integration through multi-lingual education.

(f): No specific budgetary allocation has been made for multi-lingual education programmes during the current financial year, as such programmes are part of the school education budget. However, an amount of Rs.50 Crore has been allocated for Appointment of Language Teachers.

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