CBSE New Guidelines: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken a step towards making the mother tongue the medium of primary education by making a big change in school education. According to the new guidelines, now children from 3 to 11 years i.e. from pre-primary to class 5 will be taught in their mother tongue, home language, or regional language.

The foundation of this decision of CBSE is based on the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCFSE 2023), which consider the use of the mother tongue to be most effective in early education.

CBSE gave instructions to schools
The circular issued by CBSE on May 22 clearly states that all affiliated schools will have to map the mother tongue of the students as soon as possible and prepare the teaching system accordingly. This new policy can be implemented from July 2025.

Education from pre-primary to class 2 has been called the "Foundational Stage". In this, studying in the mother tongue or home language has been made compulsory.

Studying in the mother tongue has also been advised for students from classes 3 to 5, although the option of changing the medium has been kept open here.

Why is the mother tongue important?

The circular states that young children can understand concepts most quickly and deeply in their home language. Therefore, the use of the mother tongue in early education can increase the child's learning ability, confidence, and understanding manifold.

NCF Implementation Committee will be formed soon
CBSE has asked all schools to constitute 'NCF Implementation Committee' by the end of May 2025. This committee will identify the mother tongue of the students and map the language resources. Also, schools have been asked to complete the language mapping exercise as soon as possible.

Priority to the use of mother tongue
Both the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 (NCFSE 2023) recommend prioritizing the use of mother tongue in early education. Especially in the foundational stage up to the age of 8, it is believed that children understand concepts fastest and deeply in their home language. NCFSE 2023 mentions that the primary medium of education should be the child's home language, mother tongue, or a familiar language so that their learning process can become more effective and smooth.

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