New Delhi: As part of its transition into a deemed university, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is working on a new model of multilingual education. The model will now focus on training teachers to teach more than one language in schools, sources in the Ministry of Education said.
The proposed programs would move beyond the conventional system, where language teachers are generally trained to teach a single language. Students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs at the proposed NCERT university could be trained in both language proficiency and the teaching skills needed to handle multiple languages.
NCERT Looks to Expand Language Choices in Schools
The new proposal seeks to address a practical difficulty faced by schools as they try to offer students a wider choice of languages. In some cases, only a small number of students opt for a particular Indian language, which makes it difficult for schools to appoint a separate teacher for each subject.
“A multilingual teacher could make it possible for schools to offer a wider choice of languages without necessarily requiring a separate teacher for each one,” a source familiar with the proposal said.
Focus on Teaching Skills
The initiative comes against the backdrop of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes on multilingualism. However, putting this approach into practice has often depended on the availability of teachers equipped to teach the languages offered by schools to students.
The proposed programs are expected to focus on more than a candidate or trainee's ability to speak multiple languages. They would also seek to ensure that teachers have the academic grounding and classroom skills needed to teach those languages.
According to the sources, the number of languages a teacher could be trained to teach, along with the proficiency level required in each, is still being worked out.
Postgraduate and Research Routes Also Planned
The proposed academic skill is expected to extend beyond school teaching. Those completing the relevant postgraduate program could qualify to teach in schools, while doctoral students could pursue careers in teacher education and research.
The precise eligibility requirements and structure of these programs are yet to be finalized by the NCERT.
Deemed University Status Opens Up New Academic Options
After it was declared an Institution Deemed to be University under the “distinct category” through a Ministry of Education notification on March 30, the multilingual education proposal forms part of a broader restructuring of NCERT.
As per the notification, NCERT also asked to introduce research, doctoral and innovative academic programmes. The proposed multilingual teacher training model could help translate the NEP's emphasis on multilingualism into a more practical approach to building the teaching workforce.
summary
NCERT is working on a multilingual teacher training model as it transitions into a deemed university, aiming to help schools expand language choices while strengthening teachers' proficiency and classroom skills.
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NCERT, multilingual education, teacher training, deemed university, National Education Policy 2020, Ministry of Education, language teachers, teacher education
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NCERT Plans New Model for Multilingual Teacher Training