Bengaluru: SEP Commission to Recommend Multilingual Textbooks for Primary Schools

A sub-committee of the State Education Policy (SEP) Commission is likely to recommend the introduction of multilingual textbooks at the primary school level. This initiative aims to help students between the ages of 5 and 13 learn both Kannada and English simultaneously. According to sources, the proposal suggests offering textbooks in both languages, with Kannada as the primary medium of instruction.

In a recent meeting, experts discussed that multilingual textbooks would be more effective than the current bilingual classes, which are divided into separate Kannada and English sections. The goal is to strengthen students’ proficiency in both languages.

Training teachers to handle this new approach was highlighted as a critical factor, with some members proposing that Kannada should remain the sole medium of instruction until Class 5, after which multilingual textbooks would be introduced. This strategy aims to address the need for both English proficiency and the preservation of Kannada.

The proposal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), which supports multilingual education, advocating for the inclusion of mother tongue, English, and foreign languages in higher education. The SEP Commission will continue discussions on the proposal in the coming sessions.

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